Ranveer Singh’s recently released film Dhurandhar is making waves at the box office. Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller stars Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, and Akshaye Khanna. The film portrays the story of gang warfare in Pakistan’s notorious Lyari area. Akshaye Khanna plays the role of Rehman Dakait, while Sanjay Dutt plays Superintendent of Police (SP) Chaudhry Aslam. But is this merely a fictional story? The audience is more keen to know if the film was inspired or if there was any connection between the characters in real life.
Why is Karachi’s Lyari trending after Dhurandhar release?
After Dhurandhar’s release, the Karachi area of Lyari is getting the spotlight. Dhurandhar is inspired by real events. In the 2000s, this area became a battlefield, with gang warfare claiming hundreds of lives. Drugs, extortion, and arms trafficking reigned supreme. Criminal syndicates, thriving under the political patronage of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), had turned Lyari into a ‘no-go zone.’
Who was SP Chaudhry Aslam? Played by Sanjay Dutt in Dhurandhar
Chaudhry Aslam Khan (1963-2014) was one of Pakistan’s most controversial police officers. Joining the Sindh Police as an ASI in the 1980s, Aslam was known as “Pakistan’s Dirty Harry.” He was the head of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) and leader of the Lyari Task Force.
How SP Chaudary Aslam killed Rehman Dakait?
Aslam took ruthless action against the Taliban and gangs. In 2006, he was jailed for the Mashooq Brohi encounter, but was released in 2007. In 2009, he killed Rehman Dakait in an “encounter”—Rehman’s wife called it a fake encounter, and the Sindh High Court ordered an FIR against Aslam. In the 2012 Operation Lyari, Aslam attacked Uzair Baloch’s gang, but 12 policemen were killed.
Is there any connection between SP Chaudhry Aslam and Sanjay Dutt’s role in Dhurandhar?
Aslam continued to receive threats from the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He was killed in a suicide bombing on the Lyari Expressway on January 9, 2014. The TTP claimed responsibility. Sanjay Dutt’s character in “Dhurandhar” portrays Aslam as a cigarette-smoking, gun-toting “jinn”—a character inspired by his real-life image. Aslam’s wife objected to the film, calling it propaganda.
What happened after Rehman Dakait’s death?
After Rehman’s death, Uzair Baloch took over. According to reports, in 2013, Arshad Pappu was kidnapped and beheaded- rival gangs played football with his head. Groups like the Baba Ladla rebelled. Between 2004 and 2013, more than 800 people were killed.
Lyari is said to be calm today- football clubs are active again, and a local team won the National Youth Championship in 2024. But the wounds remain. Uzair is said to be still serving his sentence in prison.
