Lyari gangsters stockpiling arms to launch attacks’
Salis bin Perwaiz
Monday, April 16, 2012
Karachi
Gangsters in Lyari are said to be stockpiling lethal weapons to attack their rivals and foil any operation by law enforcement agencies.
“Elements associated with the gang war have been smuggling a large quantity of arms and ammunition into Lyari through fish-laden vehicles, which indicates that they are planning to launch retaliatory assaults against their rivals or to foil an operation by law enforcement agencies,” say sources which know the area well.
Armed gangsters have openly used lethal weapons, including rockets and hand grenades in Lyari over past month. Violence in one of the neighbourhood broke out in March after the killing of a Katchi Rabita Committee leader, Rasheed Katchi, in an attack by criminals belonging to a gang war group.
Insiders claim that the gang war elements have been transporting lethal arms, grenades and rockets into Lyari from outside the city. These elements have also set up torture cells in Sarbaz Mohallah and also captured the building of the Hyderi Football Ground for launching attacks.
When arrests were made after the murder, gangsters made the entire area hostage, plunging it into violent incidents that claimed the lives of several people. Whenever the police make any arrests, people take to the streets in protest as gangsters threaten them with dire consequences if they do not protest. Residents say the gangsters also threaten to torch their houses and kill their family members if they do not protest.
The continuous violence has claimed a heavy toll on Lyari, rendering a number of buildings and shops damaged, and compelling residents and traders to move to other parts of the city.Rahim Baloch, a resident of Aath Chowk area, said that he had left Lyari in 2007 due to the gang war between Rehman Dakait and Ghaffar Zikri groups, and settled in Dalmia Society.
“But after spending some months there I came back to my house after the LEAs took charge of the area and the gang war elements entered into a ceasefire that led to the formation of the People’s Amn Committee. Now when the gangsters have once again become active and the whole of Lyari is reverberating with gunfire, I have decided to again move from the area.”
Between 80 and 100 families have already shifted from Lyari, a stronghold of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, to other parts after losing hope in the ability of law enforcement agencies to restore peace in their area.
This correspondent conducted a survey on Sunday and met families that had left Lyari due to unending violence, particularly in Nayabad, Khadda Market, Singo Lane, Chakiwara, Aath Chowk, Lea Market, Sheedi Village, Khajoor Bazaar and Kashti Chowk. These areas are the worst affected, as the gangsters fired rockets at buildings and lobbed hand grenades during their clashes with police.
The affected areas have yet to fully return to normality as business activities have been badly affected. In the popular Milk Market, milk traders say that in the wake of continuous disturbances they are planning to move their businesses to other areas like Sukhan or Memon Goth. They say that they have been receiving constant threats from extortionists, but their complaints are not being addressed by the authorities concerned.
The migration of families is also being witnessed in Sarbaz Mohallah where three buildings have become vacant after their occupants shifted to Hawksbay, Mehmoodabad and Baloch Para in Liaquatabad. These buildings have now been captured by gangsters who have established trenches on the rooftops to counter any attack or raid on their group.
Some residents told The News on Sunday that they could not move to safer places owing to financial constraints and that they had been living under constant fear.They said Lyari happens to be a stronghold of the Pakistan People’s Party but, unfortunately, none of its leaders are taking the issue seriously.
Moreover, these gangsters had also taken the Memon traders and builders hostage by extending them death threats, besides acquiring shares in their businesses. Prominent among these elements are Taj Mohammad alias Taju and Omer Katchi.
The frightened residents have demanded of the government to realise the gravity of the situation and take some concrete measures to cleanse the area of criminals before it gets too late for the authorities to re-establish their writ in the area.
When contacted, senior police officials denied any knowledge of the smuggling of arms into Lyrai or about the migration of people of residents due to the law and order situation.
Target killings continue in Karachi
Sunday, April 15th, 2012 5:17:07 by Shadab Khan
KARACHI: Karachi once again witnessed deteriorating law and order situation as the series of targeted killings continue and five people lost their lives whereas many others were injured after midnight on Sunday, DawnNews reported.
Two people were attacked by two unknown armed men in Bhatti Mohalla of Lines Area in Karachi. The assailants easily escaped after their attack. Both critically injured persons were being shifted to Jinnah hospital when they succumbed to their wounds. The slain persons are stated to be members of a political party.
Unknown gunmen injured five people in a park near Bait-ul-Mukarram mosque in Gulshan e Iqbal. All injured were rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. One of the injured who is said to be a political party activist, lost the battle of life where as the condition of others is stated to be critical.
Similarly two people were killed in Clifton near Schon circle and Urdu Bazaar area. Those killed had not be identified.
A police man was killed in an encounter near Shaheen Complex whereas two suspects were arrested.
Armed men attacked two unidentified persons in Tin Hatti area, the victims were rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
Incidents of firing were also reported in New Karachi area where one person was injured.
1 killed 3 injured in unknown gunmen motor cycle, near caprari cenima!
its the latest, till 11.00 pm on 17 april, 2012
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Gunmen claim another life in Karachi
Updated 4 hours ago
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KARACHI: One person was killed and three people sustained injuries when unknown armed men opened fire at a bus stop on M.A. Jinnah road here, Geo News reported Monday.
According to early reports, unidentified armed assailants riding motorcycles fired gunshots at a bus stop, injuring three people.
However, one of the injured succumbed to his wounds sometime later.
However, the attackers fled from the scene when police present on the occasion fired at them.
