Zafar Baloch
Zafar Baloch | |
|---|---|
| ظفر بلوچ | |
| Born | January 1, 1967 |
| Died | September 18, 2013 (aged 46) Karachi, Pakistan |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, community leader |
| Known for | Lyari political leadership, Peoples Aman Committee |
| Political party | Pakistan Peoples Party (claimed informal ties) |
Zafar Baloch (1967 – 18 September 2013) was a Pakistani politician, community leader, and member of the Peoples' Aman Committee (PAC), a Lyari-based organisation operating in Karachi. He was known for his strong influence within Karachi's Baloch community and for his role in the complex political and gang-related dynamics of Lyari.[1][2]
Early life
[edit]Zafar Baloch was born in Lyari around 1967 and belonged to the local Baloch community. He rose to prominence through his involvement in community initiatives and his active participation in political and welfare activities within the area.[citation needed]
Peoples Aman Committee
[edit]Baloch was considered one of the main leaders of the Peoples' Aman Committee, a controversial organisation allegedly involved in organised crime but also seen by supporters as a protector of Lyari's interests.[3] The PAC was formed as an offshoot of the Rehman Dakait group following Rehman's death.[4]
Though the PAC was officially banned by the government in 2011,[5] its leaders, including Baloch, claimed to work for the welfare of Lyari's residents and maintained informal ties with elements of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).[6]
Role in Lyari conflict
[edit]During the height of the Lyari conflict, Zafar Baloch was viewed as both a powerbroker and a target within Karachi's political and criminal rivalries, particularly in confrontations between PAC groups, law enforcement, and rival political factions.[7] Police operations in Lyari repeatedly targeted PAC members and associates.[8]
Assassination
[edit]On 18 September 2013, Zafar Baloch was shot dead by unidentified assailants on motorcycles in the Nayabad area of Lyari. He succumbed to his injuries shortly after the attack.[1][2] His assassination led to widespread mourning in Lyari and further destabilised the already volatile neighbourhood.[3]
Legacy
[edit]Baloch remains a controversial figure: hailed as a community protector by supporters and accused of involvement in Karachi's underworld by opponents and law enforcement agencies. His death weakened the PAC's influence and signified the decline of organised resistance in Lyari.[4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Zafar Baloch buried amid tension in Lyari". Dawn.com. Dawn. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Banned Peoples Aman Committee leader Zafar Baloch killed in Lyari". Geo.tv. Geo News. 18 September 2013.
- ^ a b "Uncertain future: Along with Baloch, residents say they laid PAC to rest also". The Express Tribune. 19 September 2013.
- ^ a b "Zafar Baloch: From PAC to People's Party". The Express Tribune. 20 September 2013.
- ^ "Government bans Peoples Aman Committee". Dawn. 6 March 2011.
- ^ "Zafar Baloch killed in targeted attack". The News International. 19 September 2013.
- ^ "Key PAC leader killed". Dawn. 18 September 2013.
- ^ "The eight lives of Lyari". Herald (Dawn). March 2015.