Rehman Dacoit, Uzair Baloch… The Real Story Behind Lyari’s Gang Wars in Karachi, Pakistan’s Most Dangerous Neighborhood

Islamabad: Lyari, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Karachi, has long been a working-class bastion with a significant Baloch population. Over the decades, the area has seen dramatic transformations, evolving from a community of dock workers and football enthusiasts to a hotbed of violent gang wars.

Lyari’s Dual Identity

Lyari has always had a dual identity. For its residents, it is the “mother” of Karachi—a historic settlement known for its hardworking population, boxers, and football players. For the rest of Pakistan, especially during the 1990s and 2000s, Lyari became synonymous with heavily armed gangsters. The area earned nicknames like “Mini Brazil” and “Karachi’s Wild West” due to its violent underworld.

The Roots of Gang Wars

The gang conflicts in Lyari trace back to the 1960s, when the neighborhood became a hub for the local hashish trade. Dada Muhammad and his brother Sheru entered the business, challenging the influence of an older trafficker known as Kala Naag. Early conflicts involved knives and small firearms, marking the beginning of Lyari’s bloody underworld history.

The Rise of Babu Dacoit

In the 1990s, a new generation of criminals emerged, including Iqbal, famously known as Babu Dacoit, a physics graduate who built an extensive network operating largely beyond police reach. His criminal activities included drug trafficking and extortion, and his arrest only came after he became physically incapacitated.

Rehman Dacoit and the People’s Aman Committee (PAC)

A significant shift occurred with the rise of Sardar Abdul Rehman Baloch, popularly called Rehman Dacoit. Born into a family connected with smuggling networks, Rehman quickly became notorious for his violence. By the early 2000s, he controlled large parts of Lyari’s illegal economy, from narcotics to gambling, while cultivating a charitable image by funding clinics, schools, and football tournaments.

Rehman’s political ties to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) strengthened his influence. In 2008, he formed the People’s Aman Committee (PAC), effectively running a parallel government in Lyari and becoming one of Karachi’s most powerful non-state actors.

Uzair Baloch Enters the Scene

Another key figure, Uzair Jan Baloch, joined Rehman’s gang following the murder of his father by rival factions. Together, they fought a prolonged war against the Pappu-Lalu network, escalating into one of Karachi’s deadliest urban conflicts, claiming hundreds of lives.

Parallel Governance and Water Mafia

PAC even controlled water supply points during Karachi’s chronic shortages, selling water at inflated rates. Their influence, intertwined with the PPP’s political base, effectively challenged official governance.

Clash with Law Enforcement

The arrival of SSP Aslam Khan, known for aggressive policing and encounters, led to direct confrontation with Rehman Dacoit. On August 9, 2009, Rehman was killed in a police encounter near Steel Town, Karachi, ending his reign. Leadership of Lyari’s gangs fragmented, with Uzair Baloch emerging as a key figure.

Operation Lyari and Decline of Gangs

In 2012, the Sindh government launched Operation Lyari, a massive security operation aimed at pacifying the area. Armed gangs resisted fiercely, employing heavy weapons including rocket-propelled grenades. Despite initial setbacks, by 2016–2017, gang influence weakened significantly due to military interventions, arrests, and the withdrawal of political patronage. Uzair Baloch was later sentenced to 12 years in prison by a military court for espionage.

Lyari Today

With most gang leaders dead or imprisoned, Lyari is gradually reclaiming its old cultural and communal identity. Football fields, community schools, and cultural centers are re-emerging, but memories of the violent past, when gunfire was an everyday reality, still linger among its residents.