Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar on Friday revealed that two key ringleaders of the Lyari gang war, Wasiullah Lakho and Abdul Samad Kathiawari, are currently residing in Iran, confirming that efforts are underway to bring them back to Pakistan for trial.
Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Police Office along with Sindh Inspector General Ghulam Nabi Memon and Additional IG Karachi Javed Alam Odho, Lanjar said the provincial government has written to the Home Ministry to issue red warrants for the arrest of the suspects.
He said extortion remains a serious problem in Karachi, but assured that law enforcement agencies are actively working to protect the business community. “Special investigation and district police units have taken decisive action against those issuing threats to traders,” he said, adding that four extortionists were killed and three others arrested and injured in recent operations.
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Lanjar said Kathiawari had been operating from Iran and the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) had launched a dedicated web portal for traders to lodge complaints directly.
Taking aim at the Punjab government, the Home Minister claimed that robbers looted commuters for eight hours on a Punjab highway with no media coverage, while Sindh roads remained safe. “Sindh police officers are working diligently at all levels. Our highways remain peaceful with no convoys, unlike parts of Punjab like Multan,” he said.
On the issue of bandits in the riverine (kacha) areas, Lanjar warned that there would be “no leniency” towards outlaws, saying that such criminals only surrender when faced with force. He said several of them offer rewards ranging from 500,000 to 10 million rupees. “Any criminal surrender will still face the law; there will be no amnesty,” he added, citing a new policy formulated by the Sindh chief minister.
Inspector General Ghulam Nabi Memon said the Special Branch has published lists identifying several individuals involved in organized crime and drug trafficking, including 232 ‘category A’ criminals and others involved in supplying narcotics to educational institutions and through online channels. He said 80 percent of those named have already been arrested.
“Every time the police carry out these types of repressive measures, criticism arises from known quarters,” he said, pointing out that cases of kidnapping for ransom in Sindh have reduced to single digits in recent months. “At present, only two cases are being investigated in Karachi and one in Ghotki,” he added.
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Additional IG Karachi Javed Alam Odho said the recent rise in extortion incidents had been effectively curbed, with over 20 suspects arrested, five killed and four injured in the last two weeks. He said 118 cases related to extortion were registered this year, of which only 44 were verified as genuine, while others were linked to financial disputes.
“Both Wasiullah Lakho and Abdul Samad Kathiawari will soon be brought to justice,” Odho said, adding that the overall crime situation in Karachi has shown marked improvement this year: street crime has reduced by 28 percent, mobile phone theft by 15 percent, car theft by 19 percent and motorcycle theft. by 8 percent.
He said all cases involving attacks on police personnel have been resolved and the arrest of the suspects led to a halt to targeted attacks on law enforcement officials.
