No respite: Lyari residents’ protest on Mauripur Road halts traffic

Claim innocent men are targeted during Rangers-led operation.

KARACHI: Traffic came to a standstill on the city’s roads on Friday owing to a protest demonstration by Lyari residents against what they described was the extrajudicial killings of innocent men during the ongoing operations by Rangers.

A large number of people led by Pakistan Peoples Party minister for Kutchi Abadis Javed Nagori staged their protest on Mauripur Road. The residents, including women and children, protested for at least two hours and burnt tyres, causing suspension of vehicular traffic.

Shouting slogans against the paramilitary force, they claimed that though they supported the ongoing operation against the criminals, innocent people should not be targeted. They claimed that around 34 men had been killed and 70 others were missing from Lyari.

“We are not against the ongoing targeted raids and operations in Lyari,” said MPA Sania Naz, while talking to The Express Tribune. “Around 30 missing persons have been handed over to the police after they were found to be involved in criminal activities, while investigations of the remaining 40 persons are still in process.”



The authorities have assured us that they will release the suspects by Monday, if found innocent. Naz said that a joint inquiry team, which will include elders of Lyari, will be constituted over the issue of extrajudicial killings after the authorities complete their inquiry.

MPA Naz said that several residents of Lyari were robbed of their valuables by “masked men”, who accompanied the Rangers during the raids. “We welcome the Rangers. We have no objection.”

“The masked men (informers) arrive, however, with Rangers during house-to-house search operations and deprive several residents of their valuables. These men should be punished and the authorities should return the valuables.”

Following talks with deputy commissioner, South, Mustafa Jamal Qazi, the protest was called off. The protesters also apprised Qazi of their demands. “We have assured them that we will cooperate,” said DC Qazi while talking to The Express Tribune. “We are here to resolve all issues.”

The protesters had earlier planned to stage a sit-in outside Chief Minister House. This was the second such demonstration by Lyari residents.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14^th, 2013.