The recent release of the film Durandhar has brought the Lyari area of Karachi, Pakistan, and its gangster Rehman Baloch into the spotlight. The role has been played by Akshay Khanna and has been praised by critics and viewers alike. Besides his criminal activities, Rehman’s connections with politicians are also discussed throughout the movie. A peek into the pages of history it have revealed that Rehman was a close acquaintance of Benazir Bhutto, a prominent leader of the Pakistan’s People Party (PPP). It is being claimed that Rehman was actually the one who had saved Benazir from a bomb blast in the year 2007.
In October 2007 Benazir had returned to Pakistan after nine years of exile. On October 18, hundreds of thousands of supporters gathered to welcome her in Karachi. Meanwhile, two bombs exploded during her rally. Benazir Bhutto narrowly escaped the blasts. Immediately after the blasts, Benazir arrived at her home in Clifton in a white car. People present at the scene when the blast happened claim the one who rescued Bhutto from the blasts was none other than Rehman the gangster.
Rehman’s history of committing crimes started early
Born in Lyari in the year 1980, Abdul Rehman Baloch started committing crimes at an early age. His father was a drug trafficker. At just the age of 13 he entered the world of crime and his first crime was a cold-hearted stabbing of a man. In the year 1995 Rehman killed his own mother, suspecting her of having connections with other gang members.
After the year 1995, Abdul Rehman Baloch’s criminal activities escalated to the point that he was now being regarded as the bandit Rehman. He was involved in crimes such as extortion, kidnapping, drug trafficking, illegal arms sales and murder. For over a decade people used to dread the name of Rehman not only in Lyari but in many parts of Karachi. Pakistan Peoples Party was also instrumental in Rehman’s rise.
Connection between PPP and Rehman Dacoit
According to a Tribune report a PPP insider believes that Rehman Dakait’s family has enjoyed political patronage since the 1960s. When Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had founded the PPP in 1967 his influence in Lyari was particularly strong. Lyari has remained a PPP stronghold ever since.
Rehman’s Murder
Before being elected President of Pakistan in 2008, Asif Zardari was often seen with a gang of guards who were thought to be the members of bandit Rehman. During this period Rehman stepped down from the life of crime and announced his decision to leave crime and enter public life.
He wanted to have a new role in politics, but he was later killed in a police encounter in Karachi’s Steel Town on August 9, 2009. It was said that top PPP leaders had ordered his killing just to keep their secrets intact and his will to seek political power.
