S. Raza Hassan ventures into the gang war infested badlands of Lyari.

KARACHI, July 3: Jamia Masjid Maqbool is perhaps a unique mosque. Unlike other mosques of the city, its iron gates remain locked and only open five times a day.

The grill doors are opened at prayer time and after the completion of prayer, the mosque is locked again. No one hangs around in the street where the mosque is located off Slaughterhouse Road in Lyari, as it is located in the middle of the war zone where the men of Rehman Dakait and Ghaffar Zikri battle it out.

A few days ago a passer-by fell victim to gunfire near the mosque when gangsters opened fire from the narrow alleyways, a local resident told this reporter. As the area is devoid of any commercial activity, it remains silent when the guns are not in use.

In the nearby narrow streets, children come out and stand at the corners of narrow alleyways whenever a police armoured personnel carrier (APC) appears.

“Armed youths take up positions behind these kids in case the police decide to come into the narrow streets,” said a senior police officer of Lyari.

Ahmed Shah Bukhari Road marks the dividing line between the areas controlled by Rehman Dakait and Ghaffar Zikri, the two main gangsters said to be behind the Lyari gang war.

A visit to the affected area shows that even in daytime, the streets present a deserted look and all the small shops are closed. In the narrow streets where rival gangs have taken up positions, they have dug up trenches to trap anyone daring to intrude onto their turf. These trenches are a stark reminder of the Karachi operation of the nineties, as similar trenches were also dug on the streets leading up to the notorious Khaji Ground in the now defunct district central.

At several spots the police have tried to fill up the trenches, but each time the gangsters dig them up again. “Interestingly, these trenches are not visible, as they have been camouflaged in an attempt to trap anyone trying to enter,” an officer explained while pointing out a trench hidden by a pile of garbage in the area opposite Phool Patti Lane.

Police have strict orders not to move into the narrow streets, especially at night, no matter how urgent the matter.

“The troubled area where the gang warfare is taking place hardly constitutes five or six per cent of entire Lyari,” remarked a local councillor, adding that the total population is somewhere close to 14,000.

A change in tactics

Since the formation of the new government, Rehman Dakait has changed his tactics and has also started sponsoring demonstrations in front of the Karachi Press Club against his rival gang. On the other hand, he also keeps a close watch on his opponents on the streets of Lyari.

Ghaffar Zikri, who is the front-man of Arshad Pappu, on the other hand, rules over the Zikri Mohallah with an iron fist.

“It would not come as a surprise for the people of Lyari if Abdul Rehman, better known as Dakait, is elected nazim of Lyari Town,” observed a professor residing in Lyari. “Actually, it is a proxy war that is taking place here,” he remarked.

In case of an offensive launched by the police, Zikri has been known to use women and children for cover.

There is a park by the name of Maulvi Usman Park on Tannery Road, yet no child dares to play there as it is situated in the no man’s land which divides the respective territory of Rehman and Ghaffar Zikri. On this stretch of road the traffic remains slim while pedestrians also avoid going through the area.

Just behind Maulvi Usman Park there are two V-shaped narrow streets. Both the streets were totally deserted and the buildings were pockmarked with bullet holes.

Both streets are ruled by armed gangsters, where they have taken up positions. In close proximity, the police have occupied a building and turned it into a police post.

Standing close to the Juna Masjid – another landmark of Lyari – one can see flags of different political parties.

Flags of the Pakistan People’s Party were seen fluttering from some rooftops, while banners of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the proscribed Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan were also visible from buildings on Shah Beg Lane.

A visit to the strife-torn area gives one the impression that in actuality, the gangsters are using the symbols and flags of these parties as a cover. On the other hand, even the PPP – which considers Lyari its stronghold – seems disinterested in the festering issue of gang warfare in the area.

“Merely posting a competent police officer in Lyari is not enough. Proper resources and political will are essential to finding a solution to the problem,” a senior law enforcement official observed.

Inside the APC

This reporter got a chance to visit the sensitive areas of Lyari inside a police APC.

From the inside, the vehicle looked like it had seen action in the Second World War. “Not just any driver can handle this APC,” an officer remarked. “A sudden plunge can break its shaft, which makes it immovable,” he explained.

“This is the fittest APC we have got,” he added. The vehicle had an air-conditioning system, but it seemed to be only for psychological support. After over an hour’s drive into the narrow streets, the vehicle was filled with body odour and the smell of diesel.

The remaining APCs are in even worse condition and cannot be relied upon during hostilities.

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