Politics of violence: Activists pay the price for defying Lyari’s king
PPP activists were allegedly shot dead for supporting the party despite Uzair Baloch’s warning
KARACHI:
In Lyari, the man with the most muscle is the king. Residents of the oldest and now most volatile town in the city know they cannot say no to a gangster. For in the absence of the writ of the state, it is these gangsters that reign supreme. It is their word that is law.
So when Uzair Baloch warned Lyari not to partake in the October 18 rally, organised by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), most took this as an ominous sign. Those who did not pay heed, are now paying the price.
On Wednesday night, two diehard supporters of the PPP and their friend, who was visiting from London, were shot dead by unknown assailants. Another was injured in the deadly attack. Residents believe this was Uzair’s payback for not listening to him. “Uzair Baloch had strictly warned these people to stop amassing support for the PPP,” said a resident of Singho Lane, S*, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
The recent escalation in violence is a result of the tug of war between the Baba Ladla group and the Uzair Baloch group. The former is openly supporting the PPP and had asked people to participate in the rally. The latter, a former associate of the party, had warned them against it.
S* explained that most people had preferred to remain indoors on October 18. Very few had gone to attend the rally; among them were those who were shot dead on Wednesday night. “These men were diehard supporters of the PPP and had been openly inviting people to attend the rally,” he said. “They had been warned several times to denounce their affiliation with the PPP, but they paid no heed.”
According to police, the victims, Enayat Baloch and Shakoor Baloch were sitting outside their house on Napier Road with a friend, Ejaz Lodhi who was visiting from London. “Two armed assailants on motorcycles opened fire at the men. They were killed on the spot,” said Napier SHO Azam Khan, adding that another PPP activist, Ali Haider, was also injured in the attack. “Initial investigation reveals the Uzair Baloch group was responsible for the attack,” he said. SHO Khan, however, refused to comment on the current political affiliations of Uzair Baloch.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2014.
In Lyari, the man with the most muscle is the king. Residents of the oldest and now most volatile town in the city know they cannot say no to a gangster. For in the absence of the writ of the state, it is these gangsters that reign supreme. It is their word that is law.
So when Uzair Baloch warned Lyari not to partake in the October 18 rally, organised by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), most took this as an ominous sign. Those who did not pay heed, are now paying the price.
On Wednesday night, two diehard supporters of the PPP and their friend, who was visiting from London, were shot dead by unknown assailants. Another was injured in the deadly attack. Residents believe this was Uzair’s payback for not listening to him. “Uzair Baloch had strictly warned these people to stop amassing support for the PPP,” said a resident of Singho Lane, S*, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
The recent escalation in violence is a result of the tug of war between the Baba Ladla group and the Uzair Baloch group. The former is openly supporting the PPP and had asked people to participate in the rally. The latter, a former associate of the party, had warned them against it.
S* explained that most people had preferred to remain indoors on October 18. Very few had gone to attend the rally; among them were those who were shot dead on Wednesday night. “These men were diehard supporters of the PPP and had been openly inviting people to attend the rally,” he said. “They had been warned several times to denounce their affiliation with the PPP, but they paid no heed.”
According to police, the victims, Enayat Baloch and Shakoor Baloch were sitting outside their house on Napier Road with a friend, Ejaz Lodhi who was visiting from London. “Two armed assailants on motorcycles opened fire at the men. They were killed on the spot,” said Napier SHO Azam Khan, adding that another PPP activist, Ali Haider, was also injured in the attack. “Initial investigation reveals the Uzair Baloch group was responsible for the attack,” he said. SHO Khan, however, refused to comment on the current political affiliations of Uzair Baloch.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2014.