War lords: Tension in Lyari, as residents protest against operation

On Wednesday, the police fired teargas shells at the protestors near Lea Market.

KARACHI:

Lea Market and its surrounding areas looked like a battlefield after a clash between the police and banned Peoples Amn Committee supporters on Wednesday. Commercial activity was also suspended.

Young men, women and children had gathered at Lea Market Chowk at around 11am to stage a protest which continued till 4pm. They burnt tyres and resorted to aerial firing to express their discontent. A heavy contingent of police and Rangers arrived at the scene to ensure that no one was hurt and control the situation. However, this was not so, the situation turned worse as the mob attacked the law enforcement agents and opened fire at them.

In retaliation, the law enforcement agents fired teargas shells to disperse the crowd. They detained at least eight people, who have been protesting against the ongoing raids and arrests of PAC men in Lyari since Sunday.

The protestors claim that the police was conducting a one-sided operation against the PAC and its supporters. “Why are they raiding our homes? We are innocent,” said Khalil Baloch, a PAC worker. “Do they think we’ll remain quiet? We haven’t slept or been able to go to work for the last two days.” He added that the portraits and banners of their leaders were also removed in the raids. Protests were also carried out in parts of Lyari, including Sheedi Village Road, D D Chaudhry Road and Saifee Lane.

The protestors chanted slogans against MNA Nabeel Gabol, Saleem Hingoro and Rafiq Engineer, and appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari to stop them from interfering in Lyari’s issues.

The police claim that PAC men were trying to make the situation worse, and were using women and children at the protest. They said that the detained men were taken to an undisclosed location for further questioning and would be released if they were found to be not involved.

City Town SP Nasir Aftab said that Lyari gangsters were involved and were turning the people against the police because they, had demolished the gangsters gambling dens. He confirmed that the police had removed PAC’s banners and posters in the area because they were banned. A heavy contingent of law enforcers remained in Baghdadi, Kharadar and Mithadar to maintain the law and order situation. A source in the police said that they had carried out a raid on Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai road on Wednesday morning and had arrested three gangsters. They also seized weapons and drugs from them.

PAC leader Zafar Baloch said that people were angry because life in Lyari had been paralysed because of these raids. He added that the residents were protesting for their rights and in return, they were attacked.

The situation in Lyari has been unstable since Sunday, when unidentified men killed the Katchi Rabta Committee leader Rasheed Kutchi and three other people. The PAC offices and football ground was sealed, whereas parts of Lyari, including Nayabad, Dubai Chowk, Singu Lane, Kamaila Stop, Khadda Market and Al-Falah Road were also closed.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2012.