Violence erupts: Unrest in Lyari claims lives of three men

Sources believe fight broke out between Baba Ladla group and outlawed Amn Committee, PAC denies allegations.

KARACHI:

Three men lost their lives and five others were wounded when two gangster groups in Lyari fought each other on Thursday.

According to the police and residents, the fight broke out between the notorious gangster, Baba Ladla, and the outlawed Peoples Amn Committee (PAC). In the resulting gun battle, 40-year-old Abdul Ghani, son of Muhammad Usman, 22-year-old Waseem Khalid and 23-year-old Shahbaz Imtiaz were killed while Dilbaz Iqbal, 23, Asif Fayyaz, 25, Manzur Karam Din, 60, Nasir and Zeeshan were injured. The victims were taken to Civil hospital for medico-legal formalities and treatment.

Lyari DSP Shakeel Ahmed told The Express Tribune that of all the people killed and injured, none of them belonged to either of the groups. “The firing between the two groups began during a Rangers raid in the Market area of Gulshan-e-Bihar in Lyari,” said a source, privy to the matter. “Trying to avoid arrests, members of the Uzair Baloch group fled to the area dominated by Baba Ladla,” he explained.



As soon as they entered his turf, Ladla’s gang members opened fire as they were under the impression that these men came to attack them, he added. “None of the gangsters were killed in the exchange of fire,” said DSP Ahmed.

According to residents, the deceased, Ghani used to run a private dispensary in Bihar Colony. “He was actually a paramedic at the Larkana Medical College,” pointed out one resident. “He also called himself an RMO of the Lyari General Hospital but that wasn’t true.” Meanwhile, the other two deceased were small-scale vendors. Khalid used to sell roasted lentils from a pushcart while Imtiaz sold school uniforms from his pushcart.

“Imtiaz and Khalid were busy in their work as per routine while Ghani was passing through the area when the bullets hit the three and killed them,” said a witness. “They may have survived if they were given help immediately but the firing was so intense that no one dared to come forward.”

Zafar Baloch’s death

According to sources in Lyari, the conflict between the two groups started soon after the killing of PAC leader Zafar Baloch on September 18. “For the past few days, some men have been tearing apart posters of Uzair Baloch in the neighbourhood,” said a source, adding that there is fear among the Baba Ladla group that PAC men have joined hands with Ladla’s rival gang — Ghaffar Zikri.

Back to normal

In the immediate aftermath of the firing, all shops and markets closed down in Gulshan-e-Bihar, alFalah Road and Market areas but the tension subsided by evening. “Now the situation in Lyari is much better,” DSP Ahmed claimed. “We believe that a ‘guerrilla war’ has started between the two groups and it will continue.”

While the gangsters were busy protecting their turfs, the police and Rangers were conducting raids in the same neighbourhood until evening. A few gangsters from both groups were arrested as well.

Meanwhile, Friends of Lyari chairperson Habib Jan Baloch denied that the encounter resulted from a gang war. “This is a conspiracy,” he told The Express Tribune. “There is no conflict between Uzair and Baba Ladla. I believe this was a joint venture of different forces against Uzair and Baba Ladla.”

Raid conducted at Uzair Baloch’s house

The law enforcers have once again been unsuccessful in arresting the chief of the outlawed Peoples Amn Committee, Uzair Jan Baloch. They conducted a raid at his house in Lyari on Thursday.

According to sources, a large number of Rangers conducted the raid in Lyari’s Singu Lane area but they returned empty-handed. Meanwhile, they claimed to have arrested 29 alleged criminals during raids in in Lyari, Liaquatabad, Jutt Lines, Burnes Road, Bilal Colony, Khuda ki Basti, Orangi Town, alFalah Colony, Landhi, Angara Goth, Shar Goth, Pehlwan Goth, Korangi Town and Rafa-e-Aam Society.

According to a Rangers’ spokesperson, 29 hardened criminals — including some members of the Lyari gang war and criminals affiliated with political groups — were arrested.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2013.