Lyari’s tragedy repeats itself much too often. One of the most neglected of Karachi’s 18 towns, for the past many years a familiar, disturbing plot has played itself out on its narrow streets. The area is plagued with violent criminal gangs involved in a host of illegal activities whose rivalry often leads to bloody clashes that leave the area paralysed. Law-enforcers move in but soon after they wind up their ‘operation’, the criminals are back on the streets with the area people left to fend for themselves. A similar situation has been prevailing in Lyari since Tuesday. A number of people have been killed in the ongoing violence between rival groups while many parts of the town are under virtual lockdown. A heavy deployment of police and Rangers has failed to stabilise the situation.

Over 200 families have been forced to shift to safer places because of the bloodshed. There are also allegations of the police supporting certain criminal groups, while some residents claim the operation was meant to target a certain religious community. We certainly hope this is not the case. The authorities need to clarify their position on both counts. Action against criminal elements must be even-handed and there can be no favourites. Though violence is something that affects nearly all of Karachi, the case of Lyari is a little different. There is an almost complete absence of development activities in the area and the civic structure is near collapse. The development in other parts of the metropolis has certainly missed Lyari.

This discriminatory attitude of the government — coupled with the free hand given to criminals — has given rise to various theories that are the result of the government giving the area little priority. The locality has been a PPP bastion for decades. However, it is obvious that the politicians have done little for their voters. It is said that the MQM-backed city government has done nothing for Lyari because the party doesn’t have a vote bank there. If this is true, one must ask what has stopped the elected representatives of the PPP from initiating development activities in the area. Can provincial or federal funds not be used for Lyari’s uplift? The Lyari community is a pluralistic one, with various ethnic, linguistic and religious groups living in relative harmony. Lyari has produced sportsmen of international calibre as well as high achievers in other fields. Given the chance, its residents can realise their potential.
The people of Lyari need civic services, health, education and most of all peace. Law-enforcement operations alone are not enough. What the area urgently requires is development and the government’s attention.