Rehman Dakait: notorious murderer or a Messiah for Lyari?

Karachi

Rehman Dakait may have been known as one of the most notorious criminals in Karachi, especially due to his connection in the notorious gang wars between Arshad Pappu and him, but today, many in Lyari support him to no end.

A question that would rise in the minds of those who had never seen or met Dakait in their lives is that throughout his life, it was said that he only had people working for him at gun point from whom he also extorted money. If this was the case, then why would his death spark such an outcry among the people of Lyari?

Law enforcement agencies and the media have always termed Dakait to be a hardened criminal, a cold-blooded murderer, drug lord and a kingpin, but the people of his neighbourhood, Rexar Lane, in Kalakot area, several people of Chakiwara and Baghdadi among other places in Lyari, still remember him as a man who was generous and kind hearted to everyone.

“His father, Sardar Mohammad Dad Baloch, also known as ‘Dadal’, was a rich man, and started this trend of community services,” said Hussain Mohammad*, who knew him as a close friend. “In fact he was not a criminal.”

But while many others admit that he may have cases of drugs, murder and police encounters against him, most dwellers of Lyari do not seem to care.

“Most of our leaders and politicians are corrupt to the core and do not do anything for the masses,” said Hussain. “But at least if you call Rehman Dakait a criminal, taking into account the murders he committed because of family disputes, and his drug racketeering, at least he also helped people of Lyari like nobody else did.”

While the reaction in Lyari after Dakait’s death has been one of somberness and solemnity, unlike the incensed anger after Benazir Bhutto’s death, people claim that this quietness has been maintained on purpose.

However, in one of Rehman’s houses, where his first wife Farzana lives, the atmosphere is heavy with anger and hatred for specific people. Though the family has more or less accepted the shock of his death, his wife is boiling with rage, and curses SSP Chaudhry Aslam, who killed Rehman in a so-called ‘encounter’. In fact, she insisted that President Asif Ali Zardari had allowed this ‘murder’ to take place, and it was supported by Nabeel Gabol too.

“I only say let these people come alone and unarmed to face the women of Lyari, and the world will see how we kill them with our bare hands,” she shouted in rage. “How is it that four unarmed men were killed, while not a single bullet even scratched the policemen, and it was called an ‘encounter’? These people even demanded money from him and they took the money and killed him too!”

Though the money-issue may never be proven correct, the families of all the deceased men, including Nazeer Balah, Baba Aurungzeb, and the third Waja Aqueel Ahmed - who had earlier even run for a PPP election campaign, have protested against the unfair killing by the police.

“If they were guilty they should have been tried. But this is no way to treat anyone,” Farzana pointed out.

Others in the neighbourhood feel the same way about his death.

“Rehman was an ordinary soul,” one man said. “He never acted like a king, though he may have kept his movements secret, but the most important part was that he helped people and even political leaders do that. Our local Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) representatives live in posh areas, but they don’t care about the people of Lyari, and their grievances. Rehman lived on the same street as other ordinary people and made schools and religious seminaries for the children to help them.”

Indeed, at least three computer institutes and couple of Maddrassahs were established by Rehman’s help line within the immediate radius of his house. A clinic too, which is affordable for the average man, was opened for the benefit of the public.

“Nabeel Gabol promised to give an ambulance for this clinic,” said Shah Baloch*, a man who knew Rehman well. “But in the end, Rehman had to get one out of his own pocket.”

“It is also strange that the PPP provided him with support when they wanted votes from Lyari, but now, they have completely backed out and termed him a criminal”, he added.

A convincing picture of the support provided by the PPP is the sign board in Mujahid Park in UC-10 of Lyari Town, formally known as Maulana Mohammad Ali Park, which was supposedly used as a torture ground for Babu Dakait, back in the 1980s and 1990s.

It is now a proper park, with benches and huge animal statues, opened for children in the evening. The sign board reads that the park was inaugurated by Rehman Baloch in 2008 accompanied by MPA Rafiq Engineer and MNA Nabeel Gabol.

“Whatever they say about him, Rehman was a forward-looking man,” says one old man from the locality. “His children go to school, he himself was a first division Matric student, but he dropped out later. He loved surfing on the internet, and he promoted cultural programs too.”

The News learnt that Rehman had also laid the foundations of a Baloch youth culture group known as Bijjaar (meaning ‘identity’). The group often promoted songs and music in many areas of Karachi especially those with Sindhi and Baloch majority, such as Shershah, Malir and other areas with mixed communities.

*Names and identities have been changed for the privacy of the people