KARACHI – Law enforcers on Sunday recovered bodies of three most wanted gangsters from Barohi Chowk in Lyari area.
Arshad alias Papu, his brother and an associate were killed in a shootout on Saturday with rival gang, headed by Baba Ladla.
The killing of Arshad alias Papu, a notorious gangster and a real successor of Lyari gang, along with his brother Arafat and Jumman aka Shaira Pathan has somewhat strengthened the hold of the gang headed by Baba Ladla over Lyari. Witnesses said enraged people torched the bodies of the two brothers. Police said the bullet-riddled bodies also bore marks of torture. Arshad Papu was the son of Hajji Lalu – the godfather of Lyari gang.  Police have so far been unable to explain the triple murder because the bodies of the two brothers were charred and mutilated.  Witnesses said the gangsters from the group of Baba Ladla celebrated the killing of Papu with fireworks, gunfire and other traditional ways.
Papu was He was arrested in 2006 near Lee Market but was out before long owing to lack of evidence. Last year he was acquitted in more than 50 cases.  Pappu, Arafat, and Pathan, who were awaiting several trials, were proclaimed offenders wanted for numerous counts of murder, assault, drug-peddling, extortion, kidnapping for ransom, etc.
These gangsters warring for more and more control over their gangdoms have led to the deaths of hundreds of people  Arguably the architect of organized crimes not only on his turf but the whole city as well, Pappu had been one of the main gangwarlords in Lyari. Ghaffar Zikri, second in command, was trying to run the gang till 2008, but the PPP-led government managed to flash out Zikri gang. The gang war between the Rehman Dacoit and Papu had claimed at least 4,000 lives between 2001 and 2009. Papu’s rival gang took the political cover of the Amn Committee and dominated the whole Lyari.
Police and Rangers had conducted a number of operations against these gangs, but had not been able to achieve a breakthrough. In most of the cases rival gangsters and not the men of law killed other gangsters. Experts say the political parties under the aegis of which these gangsters operate are their main lifeline.