Hundreds of women, children and men on Thursday protested against the government for its failure to bring peace to Lyari as they buried 16 people who were killed in Wednesday’s clash between rival gangs.
The protesters were carrying placards and chanted slogans against the government besides demanding that a case be registered against the chief minister of Sindh province.
“The federal government should intervene in the matter and take action against the provincial government to stop bloodshed in Lyari,” a woman demanded.
The children were carrying placards pleading the authorities and the civil society to come forward to save the poor people including children and women of Lyari who were the worst victim of the street battle between rival gangs. The fierce exchange of fire and grenade attack on Wednesday killed at least 16 people including women and children. The clash also injured about 40 people, mainly schoolchildren. Lyari, one of the poorest and most violent neighbourhood of Karachi, is known for frequent violence between the gangs.
The town is largely dominated by ethnic Baluch and Kattchi community. Over a period of time, different gangs developed their stakes in the area with the support of political clout. An operation was launched by the law enforcement agencies in September against the gangs, extortionists and shooters who were killing innocent people on sectarian, ethnic and criminal basis.
The operation in the early months restored normalcy to the city, however, it proved temporary and the gangs regained foothold and resumed their turf war.