Unrest continues: Violence erupts in Lyari as gangs fight for land

The targeted operation seems to have provided no relief to the residents.

KARACHI: With the Karachi operation now in its third stage, citizens would expect to find some solace from the crime and unrest in the city. The operation, however, seems to have had no effect on the criminal activities in Lyari, where residents have to brave clashes between rival groups every other day.

In a recent turn of events, a clash erupted once again between the defunct Peoples Amn Committee (PAC) and the Kutchi Rabita Committee (KRC). The fighting was most intense in Jakhoi Mohalla, Sanghar Para, Khadda Market, Baghdadi, Memon Society and its adjacent areas on Saturday afternoon where heavy gunfire was reported followed by cracker attacks.



The Kutchi residents of the area ultimately got involved in the fighting after armed men attacked houses and apartments in Sanghar Mohalla and Jakhoi Mohalla, in search of their rivals. Several families were forced to evacuate their homes. “The families were threatened and humiliated by the assailants,” a resident of Khadda Market told The Express Tribune.

The fighting continued for about three hours before the law enforcers cordoned off the area and arrested some of the men.

Meanwhile, residents claimed that MPA Javed Nagori, accompanied by a police party, visited the tense areas of Sunday. “Nagori and his guards misbehaved with the residents,” said a resident of Sanghar Parra.

The KRC staged a protest near Hanif Manzil, where they raised slogans against MPA Nagori and also burnt his effigy. The participants alleged that Nagori wanted to divert the authorities’ attention from the conflict between the Uzair Baloch and Baba Ladla groups.

“Why are the armed men who openly patrol the areas not being arrested?” questioned an angry participant, Abdul Rasheed.

Lyari SP Shahnawaz Khan refused to give any comments, claiming he was too busy. MPA Nagori also claimed to be busy at a programme when contacted.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2014.