Changing Face Of Lyari: Ripples Of Target Killings Of Baloch In Karachi Are Being Felt In Balochistan

"In the past, slogans in support of PPP were the only things written on the walls of Lyari. But now slogans in favour of Brahamdagh Bugti, Khair Bakhsh Marri, an 'independent Balochistan', and 'Khan Bhai' (Rehman Dakait) have started replacing them.

Baloch-dominated areas in Karachi have been traditionally a stronghold of PPP since 1970s. In all these years, whether it was general elections, Bhutto's return to city from exile or political gatherings, the jiyalas of Lyari and surrounding areas have always showed their love and loyalty for the PPP. The importance of Baloch areas in Karachi for PPP leadership can be judged from the fact that Benazir Bhutto had selected Lyari town for her wedding ceremony. She always had a great respect for the jiyalas of Lyari and used to call them 'Lyari kay laadlay'.

According to residents, besides being a stronghold of PPP, Lyari is also known for its gang wars, overflowing gutters and piles of garbage outside houses. "We have always voted for PPP, but whenever the party comes into power, our services are ignored. At present, Lyari is among the most neglected and backward parts of Karachi. Instead of solving our problems, the PPP government has launched an operation in Lyari during the second week of January 'to eliminate criminals' in which 27 innocent Baloch, including women and children, were killed," Mehbub Baloch, 55, of Lyari tells TNS on phone.

He thinks things have been changing in Lyari. "In the past, slogans in support of PPP were the only things written on the walls of Lyari. But now slogans in favour of Brahamdagh Bugti, Khair Bakhsh Marri, an 'independent Balochistan', and 'Khan Bhai' (Rehman Dakait) have started replacing them. All this change has not happened overnight; rather the continuous cleansing of Baloch has turned the tide. Baloch nationalist parties have been making inroads in Lyari and adjoining areas, especially among the youth. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto or Benazir are no more their ideals as Nawab Akbar Bugti, Brahamdagh and Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri have replaced them," he explains.

The recent developments show that linkages between the Baloch living in Karachi and Baloch Nationalist Parties active in Balochistan have become very strong. On January 15, a complete shutter-down and wheel-jam strike was observed in different cities of Balochistan against the killing of Baloch and security forces' operation in Karachi. The protesters torched vehicles, motorbikes and pelted stones on official buildings and banks in different towns of Balochistan. Call for the strike was given by the Baloch National Front (BNF) which was also supported by all other nationalist parties.

In Khuzdar district, two Baloch political activists were shot dead and four others were seriously injured after security forces opened indiscriminate fire at a protest rally taken out by the Baloch Students' Organization (BSO).

For many experts, the overwhelming reaction throughout Balochistan over killings of Baloch in Karachi is a new phenomenon. "The nationalist parties in Balochistan were never interested to own Baloch of Karachi in the past because of their support for PPP while the Baloch of Karachi were against all these hardcore nationalists and their armed struggle. After the killing of Akbar Bugti, linkages between them revived. Some Baloch nationalist leaders, especially Ghulam Muhammad Baloch who was killed last year in Turbat, worked hard to restore ties among the Baloch of Karachi and Balochistan. He played a very important role in raising Baloch nationalism in Karachi," Quetta-based senior journalist Malik Siraj Akbar tells TNS.

"The recent strike in Balochistan in support of Baloch in Karachi was the first of its kind in the recent history of Baloch. All Baloch nationalist parties are very active in Karachi these days because they believe PPP has started losing its control on Baloch-majority areas of Karachi. In the given circumstances when security agencies are very active in Balochistan, Karachi can prove to be a safe haven for them," he maintains.

"The killings of Nadir Baloch and Nisar Baloch by land mafia and Rehman Dakait by the PPP government have opened the eyes of Baloch living in Karachi. Now we are also fighting for an independent Balochistan with Karachi being a part of it," says Fateh Muhammad Baloch,Chairma Baloch Rights Council part of BalochNational Front, an umbrella organisation of seven Baloch nationalist parties active in Karachi. He believes theBaloch population in Karachi has realised that "not PPP, but independence is the only solution of their problems". He claims that nationalist parties are becoming more and more popular in Karachi these days.

Abdul Rauf Mengal, a former MNA and leader of Balochistan National Party (Mengal Group), condemning target killings in Baloch areas of Karachi, narrates, "The old name of Karachi was Mykolachi and Baloch have been living there for the last 700 years. We observed a strike in Balochistan to show solidarity with the Baloch population of Karachi. Baloch are being treated as enemies everywhere in the country."

"The Baloch of Karachi have always been supporters of PPP, but the acts of present government have made them think of other options," he tells TNS, adding nationalist parties are active in Karachi because this is right time to provide moral and physical support to the Baloch of Karachi.

Nabeel Gabol, PPP MNA from Lyari, thinks otherwise: "We are still the most popular party in these Baloch-dominated areas, because there is no alternative available to them. Nationalists have been trying since long to make inroads into Karachi, but they have failed. The population of Lyari is one million and if 50,000 among them are anti-PPP, it does not mean we are losing the area to nationalist Baloch parties."

"The government has announced a Rs2.5 billion package for Lyari. Establishment of a medical college, a law college and a university has also been approved for Lyari. The nationalist parties of Balochistan which are very active here these days were unable to get even a single seat in Balochistan. They cannot manage to gather even 500 people in Lyari and they are talking about knocking out PPP here," he concludes.