All cards on the table: Banners of wanted criminals in Lyari go missing two days later

Residents hope this new method will rid neighbourhood of criminals.

KARACHI:

Some of the panaflex banners displaying pictures of notorious Lyari gangsters and appealing to the residents to help law enforcers identify them have gone missing only two days after being put up.

The banners were displayed at different locations in Lyari on Saturday. According to the residents, the banners were removed by unidentified men on Sunday while the remaining few still on display will be also be removed soon.

A total of 26 photos of most-wanted criminals are being displayed on each banner. The top photo is of Uzair Jan Baloch, chief of the defunct Peoples Amn Committee, while Noor Muhammad aka Baba Ladla’s photo is the second largest photo among others. The size of the panaflex is about 2x8 square feet.



The reaction of the residents over the new strategy of the law-enforcement agencies is, however, mixed. Many believe it will reduce fear among the residents.

“It won’t work until and unless criminals are arrested,” said a resident of Tannery Road. “The criminals still rule as they have removed banners from different locations,” he added.

A resident of Moosa Lane said Rangers had not displayed the pictures of all gangsters, adding that most of photos were old ones. “They [Rangers] should display photos of all criminals,” he said. Another resident of the same locality said, “I think Rangers will display all the pictures eventually.”

On the other hand, a resident of Khadda Market said the majority of Lyari residents had not seen the criminals belonging to different group of gangsters. “But, it will create fear among the gangsters,” he hoped.

The last sentence on the banner assures that the informer’s name would be kept secret while a phone number has also been mentioned for the residents to contact.  “There is no reward for the informers. Why will anyone take the risk then?” asked a resident.  An official of Rangers said the practice of giving rewards was of the police and the provincial government, adding that they just wanted to trace criminals with the help of the residents.

Sources said that it was the first time that Rangers have displayed photos of most- wanted criminals in any area of Karachi. “This new strategy has started from Lyari but it should not end in Lyari,” stressed a resident of Cheel Chowk.

Rangers rid Lyari of ‘unnecessary’ speed breakers

Rangers personnel removed several speed breakers from Tannery Road, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai Road and others in Lyari, a few days ago.

To restrict movement for their opponents and law-enforcement agencies, the gangsters of Lyari had established barriers on the entrance and exit routes of narrow streets and constructed speed breakers on main roads. The speed breakers were seen everywhere in Lyari.

The residents have welcomed the removal of speed bumps, saying that the barriers created fear among residents, especially during night time when gangsters would set up their own pickets in different locations. The vehicles of law-enforcement agencies couldn't manoeuvre through the tight spots plus it also created difficulties for motorcyclists and commuters.

"It is just a state within a state. They [criminals] control everything, including the roads. One cannot cross from one area to another without fear," commented some residents. "It seems the real battle against the gangsters has started."

It was also learnt that street crime was at its peak during the day time due to the speed breakers while major criminal activities took place at night. The residents told The Express Tribune that easy movement of people will reduce the rate of crime in the restive area.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2013.