Mafias of Karachi

(7 posts)

Hussain Farooqui
Member

Karachi is in the grip of different exposed and unexposed mafias. Some of the known and
partially known mafias are beggars' mafia, land mafia, arms and ammunition mafia, car
cleaning boys' mafia, drug mafia, political mafia, car stealing/snathching mafia,etc.

Beggars' Mafia : Every area of Karachi is controlled by a chief of beggars. He is paid a

handsome share from charity collection on dialy basis. A part of share then goes to the
police.

Land Mafia: This mafia deals in double files, forged files and encroached land.
Sometimes, political parties also get involved in this field of mafia and then cause
eruption of small scale wars.

Arms and Ammunition Mafia: Illegal arms and ammunition are smuggled to Karachi
from Afghanistan and the tribal areas of Pakistan and then sold to all criminal elements
and political parties. All the political parties are the most potential and regular customers
of the Arms and Ammunition Mafia.

Car Cleaning Mafia: The system of car cleaning boys' mafia is similar to that of beggars'
mafia. They have a chief in each area who gets a handsome share from their income and
then pass a percentage to the police.

Drug Mafia: This mafia is considered to be one of the strongest mafias. They have strong
connections with the most influential people of the national and international societies.

Political Mafia: All the political parties have deep rooted criminals whose services are
employed or applied whenever required. All political murders and kidnapping are carried
out by the criminal elements of the political parties.

Car Stealing/Snatching Mafia: This mafia is monitored mostly by the criminal sardars of
Baluchistan. The cars stolen or snatched from Karachi are sold in Baluchistan at throw
away prices.

Posted 2 months ago on 05 Aug 2010 11:09 #



barackosama
Member

Biggest of 'em all, police and rangers mafia.

Posted 2 months ago on 05 Aug 2010 11:25 #

Hussain Farooqui
Member

barackosama

True, they are the facilitators of all the mafias.

Posted 2 months ago on 05 Aug 2010 11:33 #

syedhussain
Member

how true that could be. Rangers/agencies are the biggest mafia in karachi. In fact
according to my brigadier uncle, army agencies are the root cause of disturbance in
karachi. They have pretty decent works in their account. Shia Sunni fasadat, muhajir
pathan fasad, muhajir sindhi fasad, making of punjabi pakhtoon itehad, making mqm
haqiqi, literally blind and forgiving the biggest mafia town of pakistan "sohrab goth",
killing innocent civilians, killing suspects (almost all of them were mqm)without trial,
land encroachment, establish illegal factories/businesses (i my self saw a jaali coke
making factory in a govt school where rangers were staying, allowing drug and arms
trafficking in the city from tribal areas and sarhad,etc etc.

Posted 2 months ago on 05 Aug 2010 14:58 #

Hussain Farooqui
Member
syedhussain
I missed mentioning one more mafia. That is transport mafia. Most of the buses of public
transport in Karachi belong to policemen. The drivers and the conductors run these buses
of policemen on daily contract basis. This is the reason why the bus drivers recklessly
drive to make exorbitant profits from the daily contracts. Women and old people often
get hurt while ascending and decending from the buses. These police backed drivers force
women and old people to jump up or jump down a moving bus.

Posted 2 months ago on 05 Aug 2010 15:19 #

syedhussain
Member

oh yeah, thanks for pointing out this mafia. However transport mafia mainly consist of
pathans/tribals and police. The alliance of illiterate drivers with police causing a lot of
lives in karachi.

Posted 2 months ago on 05 Aug 2010 17:38 #

Hussain Farooqui
Member

syedhussain

Transport mafia in Karachi never lets any professional public transporters survive in the
city. The policemen backing/running the trasnport mafia trouble them so badly that they
warp up from the transport business.

http://pkpolitics.com/discuss/topic/mafias-of-karachi
 September 11, 2008 Thursday Ramazan 10, 1429

Child tortured by beggar mafia recovered

By Our Correspondent

SANGHAR, Sept 10: The police have arrested a gang of beggars to recover a boy who
was kidnapped from railway colony Shahdadpur about 10 days ago.

Complainant Mohammed Sadiq Arain had lodged an FIR with Shahdadpur police station
stating that his son Saifullah 7, went missing. Police arrested Ms Gulzaran alias Bilo,
Ashiq Hussain, Mohammad Ibrahim and Ghulam Sarwar.

Another boy, Dilawar, 8, was recovered from their custody. He has an old fractured hand.
Ms Gulzaran claimed that he was her son while the boy told Dawn at Shahdadpur police
station that she was not his real mother.

He said that a few years ago, he was kidnapped from Karachi and then she broke his arm
with a hammer.

He said he along with other children like him, were placed at certain places and the
passers-by having pity on them, gave alms which was collected by her.
He alleged that there were several children, boys and girls at Karachi and other places
and Saifullah was also sold at Karachi to a gang leader of beggars.

The Shahdadpur police are planning to raid secret centres of the gangs to recover the
kidnapped boy. SHO Ramzan Rahu said that they cannot disclose strategy for the safety
of the boy.
http://www.dawn.com/2008/09/11/nat32.htm

Beggars armed with a Wiper

By Teeth Maestro
March 11th, 2006 @ 3:48 PM Thoughts and Rants

The organised mafia which runs this network of beggars has in

the recent past come up with a very clever tactic to extort money from the citizens. These
kids now come armed with a soggy-wet windscreen wipe and before you can react do one
quick wipe across the screen, hence capturing your attention. No longer does the old trick
stare-straight-ahead-hope-he-goes-away glaze work as with this scam he has now your
undivided attention and the beggar is now ready to negotiate a deal in exchange for his
services. Entrepreneurship at its finest form.

Yesterday I was caught in such a situation, before I could react to stop him, the kid had
my windscreen completely drenched and it left me simply furious. Nothing much could
be done, I sat there fuming drove my car away wipers blazing, ruining the look of a
freshly cleaned car.

Personally I refuse to support beggars as my smallest donation is actually encouraging

the trade, I often wonder why people don’t realize this proliferating trade.

I pose everyone a simple question – Why do you support beggars (if you do)? What
solution do you propose to attempt to eradicate this growing mess

ShareThis

Print this post

Embed this post on your own site: - VERY BETA!
23 Comments so far
1. misha (unregistered) on March 11th, 2006 @ 6:26 pm

This is a fairly old tactic, actually. In the past, I have also encountered those who
would clean your windshield while you were out to a shop and when you would
return, they would insist you owed them money for this service despite the fact
that they probably messed the windsheild up more and were not asked to do
anything in the first place.

How to eradicate the problem? The simplest method is to just stop giving these
people any alms at all. Direct any charitable donations towards the proper
authorities instead. When the profession dries up, there will be point in carrying it
on, but this requires a movement on a mass scale.

2. Adil (unregistered) on March 11th, 2006 @ 7:43 pm

I completely agree. Some people feel obligated to give money to these people
after they have “cleaned” your windshield with gutter water. But people should
just not do that, as it is obviously encouraging them. If anyone has any doubt as to
the whole begging mafia, they should take out a hundred rupee note and say they
don’t have change. When the beggar takes our a big fat wad of cash to change,
then the truth will be evident.

The police gets a cut, as does the city government, probably, so no one can
eliminate this problem. The only way is for educated people to stop giving them
money, as they are all frauds. But you will see that most of the money is given by
the lower income people – taxi, regular, bus drivers you name it…

3. Sarwar (unregistered) on March 11th, 2006 @ 8:27 pm

 Beggar mafia? Land mafia? Exactly how many types of mafia’s does Karachi
have?

4. misbah munir (unregistered) on March 11th, 2006 @ 10:06 pm

well,i encoutered the same scenario today and was discussin with my bro about
it….well there can be one possible solution..i hv been telling my friends n family
members about it and now sharing it here….if we could have stickers which says
stop proffesional beggary and have them pasted on our windsheild…and also to
donate some money so dat we can set up centres in different areas where these
kids can get food.so if a beggar comes to us,he’ll see the sticker and would know
that cars with such stickers wont give them alms….and if they do want food they
can go to those centres and hv food there…and those of us who give money to
beggars should donate money for free food at the centres.it would stop the
problem to some extent if followed on a large scale….beggars will come to know
about the cars with stickers who wont pay them.

5. Inspirex (unregistered) on March 12th, 2006 @ 12:04 am

totally agree…..
the worst part is that they continue to ignore your indications and verbal warnings,
asking them not to do anything to the widscreen. and after they are done, they
have the audacity to ask for money!!!
sheesh!!!

bumped into another type yesterday…..the kid says he had come to karachi with
his family from Hyderabad and was living in a rented place. My first question
 was: do you have any idea how expensive Karachi is compared to Hyderabad in
terms of living??

Dont they use their brains…at all??

6. Poo poo Head (unregistered) on March 12th, 2006 @ 12:17 am

Misbah: Come to the real world and stop watching Indian movies please please
please

Inspirex: Do you have any idea how expensive 1st world is as compared to third
world in terms of living?? Don’t people use their brains…at all?? By the way do
you ???

7. Inspirex (unregistered) on March 12th, 2006 @ 12:46 am

Poo Poo head….

i know exactly how expensive it is…

ive lived at quite a few places actually….

The statement was aimed at curiousity as to why people change cities and/or
places to live when they have no idae what its like……

and next time…please dont make assumptions about anyone.

8. Teeth Maestro (unregistered) on March 12th, 2006 @ 1:17 am

 Misbah – a splendid idea – I hope that you can start an initiative for such a project
and I can assure you that I will stand with you on such a good project. If you are
up for it lets brain-storm

9. Original-anon (unregistered) on March 12th, 2006 @ 4:37 am

But how will you inform the beggars? I imagine they cannot read but they need to
know what these stickers say and where to go for food. And really, food is not
their only issue, shelter and gainful employment and perhaps education as well
are also things they need. But, the biggest problem might be that these kids are
probably under the control of the ‘beggar mafia’. Obviously, this is a huge social
issue.

10. Poo poo Head (unregistered) on March 12th, 2006 @ 7:29 am

Inspirex: When I came to US , I knew it has more opportunities for me and the
same logic happens for every one. No one really wants to leave his family and
live alone. I hope it clears every thing.

Regarding Misbah’s idea , I would not even consider that, providing food, shelter
would not help at all, instead we should try to provide them some training so that
they could help themselves. If you start providing free food and shelter then so
many people who work would leave working because they just make enough to
get food and shelter.
11. Ali K Chishti (unregistered) on March 12th, 2006 @ 8:24 am

I wish one day ( Insh’Allah ) teeth maestro becomes so poor that one day he has
to clean cars with a wiper and when he does , the person sitting in the car drives
away without paying him – ( this is from the heart )

12. ANON THE FAKE ONE (unregistered) on March 12th, 2006 @ 9:56 am

Ali K Chishti: Dude you totally missed the point. We are talking about illegit
beggars operating under the mafia.

13. misha (unregistered) on March 12th, 2006 @ 10:53 am

Ali K: Save the bleeding heart routine, I assure you nearly all of the members of
this beggar mafia do not need it. They make a pretty good living harassing people.
Why should one who actually works for a living have to put up with someone else
forcing their labor on them when it’s clearly unwanted and then be made to feel
bad because they do not pay? Should someone perform a service that you wanted
for you, you would be contractually and morally oblidged to pay them, but if they
are told repeatedly not to do so, what obligation does one have to pay them at all?

Misbah: I encountered the same flaw, most beggars can’t read so I’m not sure
they would get the point of the stickers, plus rehabilitation is what’s needed, not a
“langar”. If we do want to help them, we should teach them to fish rather than
provide them with a fish a day.

I still stand by my original solution: stop paying them at all. Such a movement on
a mass scale would completely dry up the beggar mafia. Instead, direct any
 charitable donations to foundations set up for that cause so that at least you know
your money is not going straight into the palms of those that run the beggar mafia.
Additionally, we should start purchasing those small items some people make and
sell as alternatives to beggings, for example those washcloths for wiping down
your car or the flowers sold by kids and such. At least they’re not resorting to
begging and they should be encouraged for that.

14. misbah munir (unregistered) on March 12th, 2006 @ 11:09 am

well…answering the flaws in my idea…well about the beggars not understanding

wot the sticker says….after sometime they will know that cars with the particular
sticker wont pay them no matter wot they say…..it wont take long for the beggars
to recognize the stickers…afterall they hv been here for a long time now…and for
the langer thing…comin to think about it…do u think the amount of money we
give them is enough for them to afford shelter?i think its barely enough to buy
decent food…..and most beggars usually ask for food…and yes we can introduce
trainin programmes at those centres….any maybe help them work constructively
for a good cause…..
i once had a friend who went to one of thse beggars and told the boy that he has
been thrown out of his house by his parents and wants to beg….and the beggar
actually gave the address of the man who makes him beg…my friend to this
answer told the beggar that he doesnt know how to beg….the beggars reply
was….dont worry that man will also teach him how to….wow…

15. Adnan Siddiqi (unregistered) on March 12th, 2006 @ 12:26 pm

@TM:very nice and burning post,thanks for comming up with this issue and you
have forgotto mention about guys with monkeys.And yes i also dont support such
beggers though my mom forces met go give *something* to them anyway.

@Misbah:nice idea,i would add further that media ppl(TV channels) should run
some banner or Ad to to Support these fake beggers.regarding stickers,how would
 they know because they can’t read at all?maybe some Symbolic apperance would
be more helpful

16. Teeth Maestro (unregistered) on March 12th, 2006 @ 2:00 pm

@Misbah – An awesome concept, and I think if the campaign is well organized it

will become recognizable to the extent that beggars will understand, but the
problem is we should not have a half hearted campaign, to make an impact it
should be publicized to the mass media in a big way as per Adnan’s
recommendation. Mind you beggars may be illiterate but not stupid, when the
campaign starts on a large scale they will undrestand and then deliberately resists,
but with time many will be slowly discouraged. All we need to do is create
awareness amongst the public and it will itself create change.

Some organizations have thought about creating training centers but to be honest,
is this breed of beggars coming onto the streets out of need or do they see it as a
potential money making idea. We can create such centers as a part of this
campaign.

@Ali Chishti – as I openly mentioned in my post I DO NOT support these

beggars so you can wish all you want but the beggar will not get anything from
me, I refuse to be a part of this mafia, but I do make it a point to give food every
week in exchange. It seems as if you missed the point, try to come with a solution
with some constructive criticism.

17. Inspirex (unregistered) on March 12th, 2006 @ 3:52 pm

Poo poo head: i understand what you are saying. But nothing justifies a long leap
from your surroundings without knowing what awaits you. Plan and then move. I
understand that any intelligent person would do just that.
 Additionally, i still do not undertand why you questioned me about using my
head.

That was totally uncalled for.

18. Illusionfs (unregistered) on March 12th, 2006 @ 7:57 pm

I dont support begging at all. My beef with ‘beggars with wipers’ is that they
scratch the wind screen man and I being as careful as I am with my belongings,
hate to see such a sight. And when such a thing happens, and I get out of the car
and ask them why he did that without even asking me, they make faces depict that
they were doing a service.

The only thing to eradicate begging from our society is to stop supporting it
completely. There are many many jobs *low paid* available in the city, theres no
reason for the beggars to ask for it. And I dont agree to Legit/’illegit’ beggars,
there shouldnt be any beggars at all.
Theres a lot of oppurtunity available for the people who cant afford to buy food in
Karachi, so many places have ‘langars’ 24/7.

Stop Supporting The Beggars!

19. Faisal (unregistered) on March 12th, 2006 @ 10:37 pm

Just thought that this following article from bbc.com regarding Argentina sounded
like it was almost speaking of Karachi. It is regarding the veneer of prosperity and
beggars. Do take a moment to read it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/4793814.st
m
20. fullstop (unregistered) on March 13th, 2006 @ 7:32 am

You guys don’t get it, do you? Put yourself in their shoes for a moment. Most of
us don’t have any idea what it is like to not have money for food, to not have a
home to go to at night. I am not advocating beggary. But not giving money to
these kids will not solve the problem. And bumper stickers! come on guys, I
thought the elite of my country were smarter than this. If you are genuinely
concerned about the situation, come up with something the will permanantly
address their plight. I don’t have any solutions but we can start by atleast being
sympathetic to them. And Mr. Hyderabad to Karachi read Poo Poo’s reply, lather,
rinse, repeat until you understand. He answered your simplistic assumption.

21. altaf (unregistered) on March 13th, 2006 @ 5:45 pm

The solution to the beggar with wiper problem is to do what i do – put your car
screen wipers on full speed as soon as you see one of them approaching!

22. Original-anon (unregistered) on March 14th, 2006 @ 6:08 pm

TM, I have thought about your original question and would like to offer my
thoughts. But, since it is my ‘job’ on this blog to offer corrections, so may I do
that first?
Thanks, I knew you would say yes :)
You really should say ‘I pose a question to you’ and not ‘I pose you a question’.
Why do I give money to beggars?
 1.Because I never know if the one approaching me may be truly needy and not a
professional beggar.
2.I often look at them and think, there but for the grace of God go I; surely they
did not ask to be born into this horrid existence.
3. Living outside Pakistan, one tends to have a softer attitude towards these
people; Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that Pakistanis are heartless, it
is just that you are exposed to , and annoyed by, the beggars everyday and the
expats only a few weeks a year.
4. As far as their not taking menial jobs is concerned; I see how people treat their
domestic help (again not all but some) or the low-paid workers and perhaps a
beggar’s existence is still better than that.

23. rINo (unregistered) on March 16th, 2006 @ 3:18 pm

it seems that two extreme ideas are being discussed.

one is to give money to beggers thinking that they might be really needy while
other is not to give them anything assuming they are professionals.

BUT!!!!! when Allah has given us so much did He consider whether we are
deserving?? do we think we are???? we all know bout ourselves???? i wonder
whether or not we should be questioning and digging the deservability of beggers
while giving some coins. (One thing i wanna mention that Zakat requires that it is
reached to the deserving, while for Sadaqat deservability is only preferable and
not required)

Different ideas being suggested deserve praise and appreciation and shows
maturity of our youth.

What i do sometimes is keep some biscuits, sandwiches etc in my car and give it
to beggers rather than money. In this manner i help them without helping their
operators.

Considering their smartness, its not out of question that they will sell the food, but
the chances are very minimal.

http://karachi.metblogs.com/2006/03/11/beggars-armed-with-a-wiper/