Now that Karachi’s major political forces, whether reluctantly or willingly, are striving to restore peace in the violence-marred city, those actually enjoying political cover for their illegal activities or simply pretending that they are, have no one backing them anymore. In one such case, a gang of young Pakhtun men has occupied almost all vacant plots in Bakhtawar Goth, Bhittaiabad and Rabia City – areas in the Gulistan-e-Jauhar area.
These areas are considered to be the stronghold of Awami National Party (ANP), but the party’s provincial leadership not only denies its affiliation with the gang but also demands action against them for ‘defaming Pakhtuns’. These gangsters openly go out on a looting spree, depriving residents of their valuables. They also attack homes at night to force the resident into leaving the area.
Instead of taking action against these criminals, the police even refuse to register an FIR against them.
Under the shadow of this gang, criminal activities are thriving in these areas of Gulistan-e-Jauhar: people are often seen driving snatched vehicles that are without number plates and arms and drugs are being openly sold.
Many residents are left with little option but to leave the areas. Even though the ANP claims it has no ties with the gang, the affected families of Baloch Chowk in Bhittaiabad contradict the claim. Requesting anonymity, they told Pakistan Today that these gangsters are affiliated with the ANP and can be found at the party’s Falak Naz and Pehlwan Goth wards.
“Some of them are also relatives of the party’s well-known activists,” they added. They said that there is nothing they can do against them, especially when the police are scared of them and the ANP refuses to own them. “A few days ago, Rangers launched an operation and arrested high-profile criminals in Bhittaiabad while also recovering weapons from their possession. But they did not focus on these gangsters, who are gaining more power with each passing day,” they said.
“There are up to 20 gangs of Pakhtuns involved in illegal activities for personal gains and have no political affiliation but the ANP does not feel they will prove to be a threat for the party as they are not organised and will end soon,” ANP District East President Younis Buneri told Pakistan Today. Appreciating the suo motu action of the Supreme Court and the timely action of Rangers, Buneri said that if these steps had not been taken on time, these criminals might have become a real threat for political parties.
“No political party, even the Muttahida Qaumi Movement or Pakistan People’s Party, can afford to have these criminals within their ranks and whenever they are detected, they are kicked out,” he added. Buneri said he had asked Rangers to take action against a Pakhtun named Asif, who, according to him, is ‘an extortionist in Pehlwan Goth using the name of the ANP’. “If you kindly provide me with the details of these Pakhtun youths using the ANP’s cover to run their illegal activities, I will try to have their names published in newspapers along with my party’s statement that it has nothing to do with these criminals,” he added.
Sachal SHO Azhar Abbas told Pakistan Today that police are taking action against extortionists and other criminals, who claim affiliation with political parties. “A few hours ago, I arrested a criminal named Rizwan alias Tariq Chamber, who was collecting extortion money using the name of a political party,” he added. He also refuted the residents’ claim that the police are hesitant to act against criminals. “I have arrested more than 60 criminals involved in robberies and extortion in one and a half months,” he claimed.
Malir SP Rao Anwar told Pakistan Today to ask the residents of the affected areas of Gulistan-e-Jauhar to come to his office so he can take action against the SHO of the police station concerned on their complaint.
