Lyari leader surfaces in London to protest Gilani’s visit

LONDON: A Lyari leader, who succeeded in escaping to London by dodging the Sindh Police, is set to protest Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani’s visit to the UK from the platform of “Friends of Lyari International.”
One of the most-wanted Lyari leaders on the dead or alive list, Habib Jan Baloch mysteriously managed to escape from the war-zone raising suspicions that he may have been assisted by senior level Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) members or by police forces in leaving the conflict-ridden shanty town.
Speaking to The News in London, Habib Jan Baloch, who along with Uzair Jan Baloch and Zafar Baloch is on the country’s most-wanted list, said he arrived in London on Sunday night after escaping Lyari via land, boat, camels, sea and in the end an aeroplane. He also called for the immediate resignation of Minister for Interior Rehman Malik.
Habib, who is no longer with the PPP but has served as a member of the Federal Council, refused to reveal who helped him escape from Lyari.
From the platform of Friends of Lyari International, Habib Jan Baloch will be protesting against Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilaniís visit. “I am no more with [the] PPP. We are speaking to [the] PML-N, PTI, JUI and others and may form our own wing after BB Shaheedís name.” Calling on Rehman Malik to step down, Habib Jan said: “The people of Lyari had saved Pakistan and all patriotic Pakistanis should support the people of Lyari.” He proceeded to add, “Rehman Malik wants to break Pakistan. Uzair Jan Baloch and other are standing up for Pakistan. I wanted to become a martyr facing the police oppression but the committee of our elders asked me to leave and raise the issue of Lyari at the international level.”
Habib Jan, who is considered to be a close associate and confidante of Dr Zulfikar Mirza having even organised his last UK visit, claimed that Lyari was under siege and had suffered from brutal shelling. He blamed Chaudhary Aslam as being responsible for the dozens of Lyari deaths, warning police officer of consequences for their actions.
Habib claimed that the Lyari operation was being carried out on the whims of one close relative of a top PPP leader who wanted to carve out his own space in politics by politicising the Lyari issue.
Habib Jan — who knew former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto well — said: “This would not have happened under Benazir Bhutto. We all miss her so much. Her party has been taken over by bandits. When we were involved in [the] struggle against dictatorship with her, some people were partying in clubs with their girlfriends in London.”