Lyari violence: PPP, PAC leaders, Ladla brothers booked for attack on KRC
KRC leader alleges that Habib Jan Baloch and Zafar Baloch ordered it.
KARACHI:
The police booked leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the outlawed Peoples Amn Committee (PAC), a police inspector, two brothers of Baba Ladla and six other gangsters for killing a Kutchi Rabita Committee (KRC) leader on Sunday night.
According to SHO Safdar Mashwani, the nominees in the FIR include PPP’s Habib Jan Baloch, also the chairman of the Friends of Lyari, PAC chief Zafar Baloch and a police inspector Yousuf Baloch, brothers Zahid Ladla and Tahir Ladla, Raheem Darinda, Sikander, alias Sakku, Omar Kutchi and two others.
Cases were registered for murder, attempted murder, planning to murder and under the Anti-Terrorism Act on the request of another KRC leader, Ibrahim, who was injured in the attack with two others.
Rasheed Kutchi, the KRC leader, Zubair Kutchi, his security guard, and an ASI Khalil were killed when around six assailants had opened fire at the office while the victims were watching the India-versus-Pakistan match.
Mashwani said that none of the nominees were arrested and the police were looking for them. Although some of the nominees already have cases against them, they have never been arrested before. “If they weren’t arrested before, why will they be arrested now?” asked a senior police officer. “These days registering an FIR is a way of placating a situation.”
However, another KRC leader, Daud Kutchi, told The Express Tribune that the FIR was registered using information from the members injured in the attack. He alleged that the attack took place on the orders of Habib Jan Baloch, Zafar Baloch, Omar Kutchi and Yousuf Baloch.
The men were nominated only after the KRC had made a detailed inquiry of the matter. They did not want to punish anyone innocent. “We will be satisfied only after they are arrested and punished,” Daud said.
On the other hand PAC chief Zafar Baloch condemned his nomination in the FIR and said that anti-PAC elements were controlling the KRC. “We are ready to go to court,” he said.
“Everything will become clear then.”
The crackdown
Anti-Extremist Cell (AEC), Muhafiz Force and Frontier Constabulary conducted raids in Nawa Lane, Khadvi Market, Dhobi Ghaat and Adam T Mill areas and caught nine PAC men with a huge cache of weapons. The men were identified as Imran, Rizwan, Ishtiaq, alias Channa, Ejaz, alias Bawala, Javed, alias Jeda, Shoaib, alias Khabti, Farhan, Hanif and Shareef.
The PAC office was sealed and the law enforcers took over the Lyari Football ground, which is the hotbed for Lyari gangsters, according to the AEC chief SSP Chaudhry Aslam Khan. The ground is not being handed over to the town’s administration.
The no-go areas include Bihar Colony, Al-Falah Road, Gul Mohammad Lane, Gulistan Colony, Shah Baig Lane, Nawa Lane, Nayabad, Moosa Lane, Ali Hotel area, Baghdadi, Kalakot and Kalri. Around 25 gambling dens and over 50 pickets were demolished.
SSP Aslam said that the aim of the raids was not to arrest people, but to remove the pickets set up by gangsters, and gambling dens. “If we destroy the gambling dens and pickets then we will destroy the criminals,” said SSP Khan. “We have been able to remove 75% of them. Now it is the turn of gangsters, criminals and extortionists.”
Rehman Malik visits Lyari
Meanwhile, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik also visited Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai Road, Mirza Adam Khan Road and Cheel Chowk after the crackdown ended at around 5 pm.
He said that it was his obligation to visit Lyari. “The government will not tolerate violence,” he said. “The law-enforcement agencies have been instructed clearly to take strict action against all the criminals irrespective of their affiliation.” He assured the residents that the government will provide the protection.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2012.
The police booked leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the outlawed Peoples Amn Committee (PAC), a police inspector, two brothers of Baba Ladla and six other gangsters for killing a Kutchi Rabita Committee (KRC) leader on Sunday night.
According to SHO Safdar Mashwani, the nominees in the FIR include PPP’s Habib Jan Baloch, also the chairman of the Friends of Lyari, PAC chief Zafar Baloch and a police inspector Yousuf Baloch, brothers Zahid Ladla and Tahir Ladla, Raheem Darinda, Sikander, alias Sakku, Omar Kutchi and two others.
Cases were registered for murder, attempted murder, planning to murder and under the Anti-Terrorism Act on the request of another KRC leader, Ibrahim, who was injured in the attack with two others.
Rasheed Kutchi, the KRC leader, Zubair Kutchi, his security guard, and an ASI Khalil were killed when around six assailants had opened fire at the office while the victims were watching the India-versus-Pakistan match.
Mashwani said that none of the nominees were arrested and the police were looking for them. Although some of the nominees already have cases against them, they have never been arrested before. “If they weren’t arrested before, why will they be arrested now?” asked a senior police officer. “These days registering an FIR is a way of placating a situation.”
However, another KRC leader, Daud Kutchi, told The Express Tribune that the FIR was registered using information from the members injured in the attack. He alleged that the attack took place on the orders of Habib Jan Baloch, Zafar Baloch, Omar Kutchi and Yousuf Baloch.
The men were nominated only after the KRC had made a detailed inquiry of the matter. They did not want to punish anyone innocent. “We will be satisfied only after they are arrested and punished,” Daud said.
On the other hand PAC chief Zafar Baloch condemned his nomination in the FIR and said that anti-PAC elements were controlling the KRC. “We are ready to go to court,” he said.
“Everything will become clear then.”
The crackdown
Anti-Extremist Cell (AEC), Muhafiz Force and Frontier Constabulary conducted raids in Nawa Lane, Khadvi Market, Dhobi Ghaat and Adam T Mill areas and caught nine PAC men with a huge cache of weapons. The men were identified as Imran, Rizwan, Ishtiaq, alias Channa, Ejaz, alias Bawala, Javed, alias Jeda, Shoaib, alias Khabti, Farhan, Hanif and Shareef.
The PAC office was sealed and the law enforcers took over the Lyari Football ground, which is the hotbed for Lyari gangsters, according to the AEC chief SSP Chaudhry Aslam Khan. The ground is not being handed over to the town’s administration.
The no-go areas include Bihar Colony, Al-Falah Road, Gul Mohammad Lane, Gulistan Colony, Shah Baig Lane, Nawa Lane, Nayabad, Moosa Lane, Ali Hotel area, Baghdadi, Kalakot and Kalri. Around 25 gambling dens and over 50 pickets were demolished.
SSP Aslam said that the aim of the raids was not to arrest people, but to remove the pickets set up by gangsters, and gambling dens. “If we destroy the gambling dens and pickets then we will destroy the criminals,” said SSP Khan. “We have been able to remove 75% of them. Now it is the turn of gangsters, criminals and extortionists.”
Rehman Malik visits Lyari
Meanwhile, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik also visited Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai Road, Mirza Adam Khan Road and Cheel Chowk after the crackdown ended at around 5 pm.
He said that it was his obligation to visit Lyari. “The government will not tolerate violence,” he said. “The law-enforcement agencies have been instructed clearly to take strict action against all the criminals irrespective of their affiliation.” He assured the residents that the government will provide the protection.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2012.