‘I am a Baloch from Lyari, not a gangster’
Local residents shout slogans on a street during an operation by Pakistani paramilitary rangers against criminal gangs in Lyari early on August 24, 2011. – AFP Photo
KARACHI: On a seemingly calm Sunday, when the Rangers’ operation in the city’s oldest quarter was on and Zulfiqar Mirza was making headlines with his diatribe, many in Lyari felt that their voices were not being heard by the politicians and the media.
“Our locality and its inhabitants are being singled out as being part of a gang war that is sabotaging peace in the city,” said Mohammad. A driver by profession, Mohammad, 33, belongs to the Katchi community and is a resident of Old Kumhar wara. “Despite the hype we see about Lyari’s gangs and goons, I was never hurt or threatened by any Baloch in Lyari. For me, the town is my second home.”
Visibly frustrated at the way things were going on in the city, he said, “If the Rangers operation is necessary it has to be across the board. Why is it that it’s only Lyari that is being targeted and termed as a ‘gangsters’ town?”
Living in abject poverty with little means to sustain their day to day existence, the locals feel that broken promises of their elected representatives and the media are responsible for the crisis that this area faces.
“I’m a Baloch from Lyari and I’m not a gangster. Please stop Lyari’s media trail,” said Raza (not his real name), a 23 years old student who runs a net café in the area.
Talking about the recent turn of events that have once again shoved Lyari into the limelight for all the wrong reasons, he says, “The media is very biased and polarised. Lyari was never a ‘No Go’ area for anyone. We have all kinds of ethnic groups living in the same neighborhood; we share each other’s sorrows and happiness together. However, the media is hell bent on creating a hostile picture and there is no one willing to share our stories.”
Of the ethnic violence and gang war in the area, he says its “political in nature with extortionists calling the shots.”
“But it’s not only the killings that are worrying us. After the brutal killing of five men from Lyari, many employers have asked their Baloch workforce not to come to work as security cannot be guaranteed. As it is, poverty and lack of employment opportunities has been frustrating the residents of Lyari for years. Now, this will allow more youngsters to go for the guns and drugs.”
With its narrow interlinked lanes that are no less a maze, a trip to the area is an eye opener. With many communities living side by side, the place once known for its late night rendezvous and football crazy locals is now a shadow of its former self.
Shahid Husain, a senior Journalist and former activist, termed Lyari the most vibrant place in Karachi with its unique sub-culture. “I have never seen such a lively place. I use to go to Lyari everyday when I was a student. I never felt threatened because the people there were so friendly and loving.” But that was over three decades ago and then the downfall of this peaceful locality began. “Considered a stronghold of the Pakistan People’s Party, Lyari was transformed when heroine and Kalashnikov were introduced during the Afghan War. That was a dictator’s gift.”
A woman weeps as she looks at the picture of her son who was killed after being kidnapped from Lyari, outside Edhi Center in Karachi on Friday. – Online Photo
A highly populated area, with the 1998 census stating Lyari’s population to be over 600000; Lyari is no more than a slum. Come elections and the politicians throng the area for getting the maximum political mileage and disappear once in the assembly. Years of neglect and official apathy hasn’t gone unnoticed by the locals and nor has the ‘gifts’ of dictators.
“Despite being the oldest slum in South Asia, Lyari was always known for its peace and calm and the mutual respect that people had for various communities. It was a peaceful coexistence,” said Asghar Baloch, a government school teacher.
Sharing a similar sentiment as Raza and others, he too blamed the media for being biased, with “the ‘gang war’ being created by the media”.
“Petty drug peddlers in Lyari are portrayed as larger than life characters by the media,” he said.
“The then government of Arbab Ghulam Rahim and its ally the MQM deliberately allowed the killing of the people of Lyari by two rival gangs,” he alleged.
“The Musharraf regime allowed for the systematic nurturing of violence. The drug peddlers and goons, who were criminals and should have been dealt accordingly, were given a freehand and now they rule the roost. They (government) ignored the killings in Lyari when one Baloch was killing another Baloch for drug money. Many of the Baloch men who were killed were not gangsters or from the drug mafia. But because Lyari was never their vote bank, they looked away.”
“No one did anything for this area and the communities living here. The very youngsters who lost their family members in gang war back then are now holding guns and trying to avenge for their loss. Today Lyari is once again being used for political gains while the future of its people looks bleak,” he added.
Fearing for their lives and afraid of being singled out, many Baloch residents have stopped venturing to other parts of the town. A vocal matriarch, Hamida Baloch says that her children have barred her from travelling to other areas. “I wear Balochi dress. My children say that I could be kidnapped and killed,” she said. She claimed that some of her acquaintances were humiliated and had their heads and eyebrows shaved by men from the Urdu-speaking community.
Recalling old times, she said that she was born and bred in Karachi and her family members playing an active part in the development of the Karachi port. “Our forefathers moved to Karachi back in 1880’s from Balochistan. Their sweat and blood is there in the foundation of the Karachi Port Trust. My grandchildren are the fifth generation who were born here in Karachi. We are the children of this soil and are more loyal and patriotic to Karachi than anyone else and today we are being called criminals, it really hurts!” she complained.
On the Rangers’ operation in Karachi, she said that her family and those in neighbourhood did not join in the protests as “we want an operation against anyone who is involved in violence in the city.”
Even if, i am not a Baloch.. but still i can understand the feelings, that the people of lyari would be having nowadays, it really feels hurting when you hear such type of things.. MAY ALL MY LYARI FELLOW GET OUT OF THIS MISERY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND SPEND THEIR REST OF LIFE IN PEACE
!!INSHA'ALLH!!!!
balocon ka shan balach marri or sh nawab akbar khan bugti. liyari walo apne balochon ka laj rakna or pokistan k napak forces k samne na jhukna larty rho apne izt or aabroo k liye or apne nung o namoos ka khiyal rkna
This is political game, its not ethnic basis fight, so I requested the media to play positive rule regarding this.
We should all get together, and start fixing things. This will require planning and patience. Firts educate people.
I am a Pakistani from Karachi living in USA for a very long time.I attended Sind Madrasa and SM college in sixties.I had many frinds who were Baloch and were and still are my brothers.They used to come to my home in PECHS and used to eat with my family. My father liked them all.I attended their marraiges and had dinners in tradiditional Balochi way.They are orignal Pakistan people of the land. Protect them and help them. Let them live a safe life in Karachi. It breaks my heart when I hear the phrase Liari Mafia. They are our brothers and sisters.
I visit Lyari every year as the place is the birhtplace of my parents & my Nani stays there. I keep on hearing stories from people that Lyari is a dangerous area not to be visited ; but I keep on ignoring their comments as I know my Lyari is safe & not a single resident would threaten me or my family.
The way media portrays Lyari is very false & the media loves to show a negative image of Lyari where only gangsters or drug peddlers stay. I hope one day in the future Lyari would be different & the mass of people would be educated.
Long live Lyari
Very good question raised by my brother Nisar that what PPP has done for Lyari ? & the answer is nothing at all. The truth is that we have no Option either.
We the people of lyari cannot give vote to PML N, JUI or Tareek insaf & definitely not to the MQM.
very well said
What's is going on in the karachi. Its very unfortunate and being muslim we r all one we r not indian,pak,baloch r punjabi but ist of all we r all muslim.
No dear … we are human beings… sorry to say
if ppl in lyari are not criminals, then why u protest if rangers want to do operation against gangsters there….
if there are criminals living in lyari then why do other people suffer from the violence? and one thing that every person shouldn't forget is that Criminal/culprit maynot be of any creed , culture , and neither he's a sectarial !:)
its unfortunate and nobody likes violence..but i also some question for liyari people
- PPP getting seats frp, liyari for more than 30 years but what they deliver? are they sincere with you
- if they dont and you still voting for them than its your fault. you cant change nobody can change you
- l live in F.b. area. we dont select ppl living in defence or london like bilawal to rule us, out MPA belongs to our area mainly.
- you have to accept even ppp killed half your ppl you still vote for them..just someone has to speak loudly Jai Buttho..all gone mad. you must come out of emotion and work in real world.
Nice article.
I was Born in lyari and it feels like i am lyari myself. This media propaganda that lyari residents are gangsters, criminals and some kind of gang war or ethnic war is taking place in lyari is absolutely fallacious.
Lyari was and never be a No Go area for any Human beings. We have Urdu Speaking, Katchi, Memon, Pathan, Sindhi, Punjabi, Saraikie, Malbree,. We also have Hindu, Christians & we all live in harmony & peace.
At the end please let us live in peace.
thumbsup !!
I born in Lyari and still resided in lyari as my family is not ready to move out of this town due to the same level of neighbourhood and brothership that we are enjoying at this place. Indeed!! its a white lie that lyari doesn't have any criminal elements.
Out of the 80% region of lyari, almost 50% inhabitants are criminals by birth and they should be dealt with accordingly. Operation in lyari is must and should be done in its sould and spirit.
Not like the operation done on sunday the August 28, when rangers did operation in only nayabad area and none of them moved to nawalane, singulane, molamadad, baghdadi, chakiwara, gareebabad, cheel chow,
Can any one even think that the rifle being shown by the rangers over the TV was ever used by these gangster??. That rifle was used in world war II not but not in gang wars carried out between baloch and katchis in recent days.
Please, dont be get mis-directed by the words said by "poorly dressed drivers" or etc. they are all agents of what we call "owners of lyari" and nothing else.
I have been in lyari, for around 8 years upto 1980.was very much peaceful living there with sindhis , baluchis, pathans ,punjabis,and mohajirs without unnecessary interfering each others life,respecting and sharing each oters sorrow and happiness in very cordial manner.I used to watch late night film shows in ranchor line cinemas and come back walking late midnight,without any fear,any problems.still remember KMC boys primary school meera naka,govt boys sec.school chakiwara ,KMA boys sec.school KHaradar and Govt Degree Sc.college lyari.I feel depressed to hear the news about unrest and law n order situation there I pray may Allah bless lyari all the best and bring back the same brotherly environment I have witnessed in my young age.I love u Lyari,Love u Karachi.Pakistan zinda bad.
Lyari was really a peacful area, I had been to Lyari quite often I never felt threatened moving around. People are poor and loving. Different ethenic groups used to live in peace and tranquality its the corrupt politician who has divided Karachi into so many parts. Baloch, Sindhis living in Lyari have done more than Urdu speaking community in the development of Karach but what they got in return I will say nothing even today they are facing the same difficulties as they were 50 years ago. Please come together and resolve the basic issues of a common man rather than just looking and working for the election day.
we are missing the right kind of motivation that left each other spirit and encourage to do good things like our forfather used to teach us ,iam proued person of lyari and live abroad and have all kind of ethnic back ground friends , never once agreed with any group or party but to people on right path , elder respact is gone, every one wants to run the country or street gang , lock of education ,respact one another,get of out of comfortzone and do something about it, our country leaders ussing us as their product caussing mass killing for their own purposes, and we people being foll into there wrong cause, love pakistan and each other
Hold your stereotype thinking against Baloch brothers and Lyari.
Give Lyari education, health, libraries and employment…IT will change the face of Lyari.
Hold your stereotype thinking against Baloch brothers and Lyari.
Peoples of Lyari are the true owners of Karachi because they have been living in the city for hundreds of years. Give Lyari education, health, libraries and employment…IT will change the face of Lyari.
question ignored in the article: what did the politicians who do have a vote bank in lyari, actually ever did for lyari????
All Pakistan's parties are ethnic or religuous based, regardless of their name. Therefore the divide along ethnic and religuous lines. As long as people and politicians aligh=n themsleves with narrow centered groups, rather than national, they will conitnue to slpinter in ever smaller and violent groups. The current crop of polticians are the problem. They are feudals protecting their turf in all parts of the country. karachi being the most diverse is experiencing the worst of what is ging on through out the country.
I am deeply saddened with the situation in Liyari. I have good memories of 1947-1960 when I with friends used to visit Chakiwara,Leamarket,Bheempura etc. to see the films,listened to indian songs in various hotels and most of all,to play and watch cricket and football in kuckery ground.May God help the Liyari people.Amin.
a revolution is in waiting in pakistan.
It is fact that Lyari has always remained a place where all ethnic and linguistic groups remained in peace and harmony when the other areas of the city were in strife. Even the so called gang war did not took any ethnic turn at any stage. Lyari is the home of all ethnic groups speaking each other's languages. Many Urdu speaking people live in the area for a long time and have almost merged with the locals and indistinguishable from them in every way. Even today when Lyari is being maligned for its ethnic bias not a single event has occurred among the people. Please let these folk live in peace and do not involve them in the dirty ethnic politics.
Being a resident of Lyari since birth I can say the article really close to the reality. However, I feel the fate of the people is in their hands. They do not use the power of their vote. In elections, people (including me) use emotions rather than rationale – that's what I have to say.
India or Pakistan, what did it changed for masses?