Lyari gangs reach truce

KARACHI

Battling gangs in Lyari yesterday reached a truce after a Sindhi nationalist leader played arbitrator role in Hyderabad to end the fighting in the restive town in recent days.

Sources said that Sania Naz Baluch, member of Sindh parliament from Lyari, contacted Ayaz Latif Palejo, the chief of Awami Tehreek, to play a role in getting the two gangs to reconcile.

In Lyari, the gangs led by Uzair Baluch, the chief of banned People’s Peace Committee, and Baba Ladla, his former lieutenant Baluch, were at war with each other for a few months.

The representatives of the two rival gangs were also present at the meeting and assured those asembled that they would ensure the implementation of the truce.

The in-fighting between the gangs had led to the deaths of dozens of supporters of Baluch and Ladla whereas Lyari residents remained stranded in their homes as the rival groups fired at each other regularly.

Last week, in a pitched battle involving heavy gunfire and hand grenade attacks, 16 people were killed including women and children. In the subsequent crackdowns and encounters, police and paramilitary rangers gunned down about 12 of the activists of the two gangs in different parts of the city.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday ordered the law enforcement agencies to take stern action against the criminals and outlaws without any fear.