Lyari gangsters resurface; kidnap, torture teenager
Five suspects, including a son of notorious Lyari gang-war commander Baba Ladla, have been taken into custody over the alleged abduction and brutal torture of a teenager in Lyari, after a video showing the assault surfaced on social media and was aired by Express News.
The disturbing mobile phone footage shows the teenager stripped, tied up with ropes and repeatedly beaten with a leather belt and a stick. His neck, arms and legs can be seen bound in the video, while the assailants continue the assault and record it on a mobile phone.
The incident reportedly took place on October 11 in Phool Patti Lane, Lyari. The footage has raised concerns about the possible re-emergence of gang-related intimidation in the area, although police officials have said the incident stemmed from a dispute among young men and was not linked to a clash between gang-war groups.
According to police, a case was registered at Baghdadi police station on October 14 on the complaint of the victim's maternal uncle, Kabir Ahmed, under charges including attempted murder, abduction and assault.
In his complaint, Kabir Ahmed said he worked at a cardboard box manufacturing unit in Pakistan Chowk, Karachi. His nephew, Ghulam Nabi, aged 17 or 18 and a Class VIII student, returned home on October 11 in a frightened state, with visible marks of torture on his face.
The teenager reportedly told his uncle that he had been walking towards Lyari General Hospital for work that night when he reached Phool Patti Lane No. 20, near Dongi Chowk. There, he allegedly encountered seven men, including Sharif and Arshad, sons of notorious gang-war commander Baba Ladla, along with Uzair, son of Ishaq; Faraz, son of Qasim; Ali, son of Tahir; Ghazanfar Ali; and Shahzaib.
The complainant said the suspects had been involved in a dispute with his nephew about two months earlier.
According to the teenager's account in the FIR, the men, some of whom were armed, seized him and took him to a small room, where they tied his hands and feet, stripped him and subjected him to severe torture with sticks. He also alleged that a bridle was forced into his mouth while the assault was filmed.
The complaint further stated that Sharif threatened to kill the teenager and allegedly drew a pistol to shoot him. However, Arshad reportedly pushed his hand upwards, causing the shot to miss the victim.
The suspects subsequently untied the teenager after he pleaded for his life, but allegedly warned him not to return to the area. He then put on his clothes and fled home.