Sohrab Goth residents block highway to decry police’s patronage of drug, land mafias

KARACHI: Residents of Sohrab Goth and its surrounding areas on Sunday staged a protest on the Super Highway near Al-Asif Square against drugs, land and smuggling mafias, police excesses and local administration’s corruption.

Protesters blocked both tracks of the superhighway for hours, demanding the suspension of the SHOs of the Sacchal and Sohrab Goth police stations and incharge of a police post.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan MNA Iqbal Masood led the protest warning that if no action was taken, he would resign from his parliamentary seat.

The protesters gave a 48-hour deadline to the District East police for meeting their demands. They accused the local town administration, police and extortion mafias of facilitating illegal activities.

The protesters also chanted slogans against extortionists and called for immediate action. When a Grade 17 officer arrived for negotiations, the demonstrators demanded immediate suspension of the local police post in charge and the arrest of police personnel deployed at the Quetta Terminal, which is allegedly involved in smuggling.

MNA Masood claimed that Sacchal SHO Inspector Aurangzeb Khattak had been directly supporting drug dealers, land mafia and smugglers for the past two years. He warned that if departmental action was not taken against him within 48 hours, the protesters would completely block the Super Highway.

He also accused SHO Sohrab Goth Wazir Sammo and the local police post incharge, Liaquat, of involvement in large-scale smuggling. He alleged that the police were engaged in extortion, corruption and illegal water sale in the Sohrab Goth area.

He claimed that police had removed banners and flex posters put up during their awareness campaign and harassed those involved in the protest. He condemned these actions and warned the East District police to suspend Khattak, Sammo and Liaquat within 48 hours.

Due to a large number of protesters, massive traffic jams were reported on the highway with long queues of vehicles extending to Liaquatabad. The Lyari Expressway was also blocked, causing hours of inconvenience for commuters.

After hours-long negotiations with the police, the protesters ended the blockade, and traffic flow resumed on the Super Highway. For decades, police stations like Sohrab Goth and, Sacchal have been notorious for facilitation of smuggling, land grabbing and drug mafias. These areas are considered a goldmine for criminal networks, with direct and indirect involvement of local police and other relevant departments, enabling them to earn not millions of rupees in monthly bribes.

Due to this deep-rooted corruption, many police officers remain posted in these stations for years. Even if they are transferred due to pressure, they manage to return within a short time by using their connections and financial influence.

Over the past few days, residents of Sohrab Goth put up large banners across the area to raise public awareness and encourage people to participate in protests.