Sindh home minister confirms Lyari gang ringleaders operating from Iran

Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar on Friday revealed that two key ringleaders of the Lyari gang war — Wasiullah Lakho and Abdul Samad Kathiawari — are currently residing in Iran, confirming that efforts are underway to bring them back to Pakistan to face trial.

Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Police Office alongside Sindh Inspector General Ghulam Nabi Memon and Additional IG Karachi Javed Alam Odho, Lanjar said the provincial government has written to the Ministry of Interior to issue red warrants for the suspects’ arrest.

He said extortion remains a serious issue in Karachi but assured that law enforcement agencies are actively working to protect the business community. “Special investigation and district police units have taken decisive action against those issuing threats to traders,” he said, adding that four extortionists have been killed while three others were arrested in injured condition in recent operations.

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Lanjar said Kathiawari had been operating from Iran and that a dedicated web portal has been launched by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) for traders to file complaints directly.

Taking aim at the Punjab government, the home minister claimed that dacoits looted travellers for eight hours on a Punjab motorway without media coverage, whereas Sindh’s highways remained secure. “Sindh police officers are working diligently at every level. Our motorways remain peaceful — without convoys — unlike in parts of Punjab such as Multan,” he remarked.

Turning to the issue of bandits in riverine (kacha) areas, Lanjar warned that there would be “no leniency” toward outlaws, saying such criminals only surrender when confronted with force. He said several of them carry bounties ranging from Rs500,000 to Rs10 million. “Any criminal surrendering will still face the law — there will be no amnesty,” he added, citing a new policy framed by the Sindh chief minister.

Inspector General Ghulam Nabi Memon said the Special Branch has issued lists identifying several individuals involved in organized crime and drug trafficking — including 232 ‘A-category’ criminals and others engaged in supplying narcotics to educational institutions and through online channels. He said 80 per cent of those named have already been arrested.

“Whenever the police conduct such crackdowns, criticism arises from known quarters,” he remarked, noting that kidnapping for ransom cases in Sindh have dropped to single digits in recent months. “At present, only two cases in Karachi and one in Ghotki are under investigation,” he added.

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Additional IG Karachi Javed Alam Odho said the recent surge in extortion incidents had been effectively curbed, with more than 20 suspects arrested, five killed, and four wounded in the last two weeks. He said 118 extortion-related cases were registered this year, of which only 44 were verified as genuine, while others were tied to financial disputes.

“Both Wasiullah Lakho and Abdul Samad Kathiawari will soon be brought to justice,” Odho said, adding that Karachi’s overall crime situation has shown marked improvement this year — with street crime down 28 per cent, mobile snatching 15 per cent, car theft 19 per cent, and motorcycle snatching 8 per cent.

He said all cases involving attacks on police personnel have been solved, with the arrest of the suspects leading to a halt in targeted assaults on law enforcement officials.