YELL, if you want to be heard: ‘I heard that blood is cheap in Lyari’

Lyari youth talks about displacement from violence, public perception, saving their homes.

KARACHI: ‘I have heard that blood is very cheap in this area ... Lyari.’

When Aftab Baloch received this Urdu text message he wanted to yell out that Lyari is burning and it needs someone to save it.

For other Lyari residents like Aftab, Youth for Education, Learning and Leadership (Yell) and Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) held a dialogue on Wednesday at the press club, where people who have been displaced by the violence in Karachi’s volatile neighbourhood gathered.

A short documentary made by Abdur Razzak Sarbazi was shown at the event. The film depicts social life in Lyari through its numerous cloth vendors, musicians and football players. “There is a Lyari of then, and a Lyari of now,” Sarbazi pointed out. “Both are very different.”



One of the organisers pointed out the beauty of living in Lyari. “Lyari is a small place - only 18 acres - and everyone knows or is related to everyone else,” said Umer Lassi. “Due to the two gangs present in Lyari, everyone started fighting. Now people don’t talk to their own relatives and gun-wielding men just throw bombs at each other, without caring who dies.”

Lassi felt that the war in Lyari is unique. “Because they have no targets and they don’t care who the victim is, even if it is their own people.”

He went on to speak of the apathetic politicians who, after hearing the name Lyari, want to distance themselves. “These politicians, who are supposed to be our representatives, never take up our case in the Sindh or National assemblies,” Lassi pointed out. “Only 0.001 per cent of Lyari’s residents are criminals, the rest are all victims.”

A general consensus amongst those at the dialogue was that the people of Lyari want nothing but peace. “It [Lyari] is a place where everyone was, is and will always be free,” said a social activist, Nasreen Baloch.

When the floor was opened for the audience, everyone wanted to speak. “We misuse and we are misused,” said one gentleman. “We need to work together and take responsibility for our area. We need to educate people politically so they know their rights.”

People of all ages stood up and spoke of the Lyari of the past that was known as ‘mini Pakistan’ with people of all ethnicities living in harmony. Some students complained how they are unable to attend school or university due to violence.

Shabana, a teacher, complained how organisations from outside Lyari do not extend a helping hand to them. “Are we not humans too? Our children are smart, we just need to get together and work towards helping Lyari.”

The speakers denounced how political parties use the people of this area for their political gains. “This is not our fight. This is theirs,” said a young man in the audience.

“No one listens to the elders, now it’s time for the young generation to try and help ourselves,” suggested another.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6^th, 2014.