Sindh Interior 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.
Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Police Office alongside Sindh Inspector General Ghulam Nabi Memon and Additional IG Karachi Javed Alam Odho, Lanjar said the provincial government had written to the Interior Ministry to issue red arrest warrants against the suspects.
He said extortion remained a serious problem in Karachi, but assured that law enforcement was actively working to protect the business community. “The special investigation and district police units took decisive action against those who threatened the traders,” he said, adding that four extortionists were killed while three others were arrested injured in recent operations.
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Lanjar said Kathiawari operated from Iran and a dedicated web portal had been launched by the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) for traders to lodge complaints directly.
Targeting the Punjab government, the home minister claimed that the dacoits looted travelers for eight hours on a Punjab highway without media coverage, while Sindh highways remained secure. “Sindh police officers are working diligently at all levels. Our highways remain peaceful – without convoys – unlike some parts of Punjab like Multan,” he remarked.
Addressing the issue of bandits in riverine (kacha) areas, Lanjar warned that there would be “no leniency” towards outlaws, saying such criminals only surrender when confronted with force. He said several of them carry bonuses ranging from Rs500,000 to Rs10 million. “Any criminal surrender will still be punishable by law – there will be no amnesty,” he added, citing a new policy framed by the Sindh chief minister.
Inspector General Ghulam Nabi Memon said the Special Branch had 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 had already been arrested.
“Whenever the police carry out such crackdowns, criticism comes from known quarters,” he remarked, noting that cases of kidnapping for ransom in Sindh have fallen to single digits in recent months. “At present, only two cases in Karachi and one in Ghotki are under investigation,” he added.
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Additional IG Karachi Javed Alam Odho said the recent surge in extortion incidents had been effectively brought under control, with more than 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.
“Wasiullah Lakho and Abdul Samad Kathiawari will soon be brought to justice,” Odho said, adding that the overall crime situation in Karachi has improved markedly this year – with street crime falling by 28 percent, mobile phone thefts by 15 percent, car thefts by 19 percent and motorcycle thefts by 8 percent.
He said all cases of attacks on police officers had been resolved, with the arrest of the suspects helping to stop targeted attacks on law enforcement officials.