Lyari gang war fears return after youths are allegedly abducted

KARACHI: Fear has gripped Karachi’s Lyari neighbourhood after several young men, including two sons of slain gangster Baba Ladla, were allegedly abducted at gunpoint, stripped, tied up and tortured at an undisclosed location, according to a police complaint.

The incident has raised concerns among residents about a possible resurgence of gang-related violence in an area that witnessed years of deadly clashes between rival criminal groups.

According to the first information report (FIR), three to four young men were allegedly taken away at gunpoint, transported to an unidentified location, stripped of their clothes and subjected to physical torture after their hands and feet were tied.

The complainants also alleged that the abductors threatened to circulate videos of the victims on social media.

Videos reportedly showing the victims in a vulnerable condition have circulated online, adding to public concern over the incident.

FIR Registered After Court Intervention

The affected families alleged that they initially approached Baghdadi Police Station to register a case but faced delays. They subsequently moved a court, following which police registered an FIR under relevant legal provisions concerning kidnapping, illegal confinement, assault and criminal threats.

Police have reportedly begun investigating the incident, but no arrests had been announced at the time of the report.

Residents have questioned the police response and called for urgent action to protect people in Lyari, Chakiwara, Kalakot and surrounding neighbourhoods.

Some residents have expressed fears that the incident could signal a return to the violence associated with the area’s gang wars during the previous decade. However, the allegations do not yet establish that an organised gang conflict has resumed.

Lyari’s Violent Gang-War History

Lyari, one of Karachi’s oldest and most densely populated neighbourhoods, experienced years of violence involving rival criminal groups, including factions associated with Rehman Dakait, Uzair Baloch, Arshad Pappu and Baba Ladla.

The rivalry involved allegations of extortion, drug trafficking, territorial control and political influence. The killing of Arshad Pappu in 2013 became one of the most notorious episodes of the conflict.

A major law-enforcement operation launched in Karachi in 2013 targeted criminal networks across the city. Uzair Baloch was arrested in 2016, while Baba Ladla and Ghaffar Zikri were killed in separate encounters in 2017, according to historical accounts.

Although the operation significantly weakened several prominent gangs, concerns about criminal activity and the possible re-emergence of rival networks have persisted.

Residents Demand Immediate Action

Sources cited in the initial report alleged that relatives and associates of former gang figures were attempting to regain influence in the area through criminal activities, including extortion, drugs and land grabbing. These claims have not been independently established.

Residents have urged the SSP City and DIG South to investigate the alleged abductions, identify those responsible and ensure the victims’ protection.

The case has renewed calls for effective policing and accountability as authorities work to determine the circumstances behind the incident and whether it is linked to organised criminal activity.