Rehman Baloch | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Sardar Abdul Rehman Baloch[1] 1975 Lyari, Karachi, Pakistan |
| Died | August 9, 2009 (aged 33–34) Steel Town, Karachi, Pakistan |
| Cause of death | Police encounter |
| Other names | Rehman Dakait Khan Bhai Khan Saheb Sardar Baloch |
| Organization | Peoples' Aman Committee |
| Known for |
|
| Successor | Uzair Baloch |
| Opponent(s) | Arshad Pappu |
| Relatives | Uzair Baloch (cousin) |
Reward amount | PKR 5 million |
Sardar Abdul Rehman Baloch (Urdu: عبدالرحمن بلوچ; 1975 – 9 August 2009), widely known by his alias Rehman Dakait (Urdu: رحمان ڈکیت), was a notorious Pakistani gangster who operated in the Lyari area of Karachi. He was the founder of the Peoples' Aman Committee, a group that had affiliations with the Pakistan People's Party.[1] The Government of Sindh had announced a bounty of Template:PKR for his capture. Rehman faced accusations of involvement in over a hundred criminal activities and was a wanted man for severe offenses such as dacoity, murder, drug trafficking, kidnapping for ransom, and illegal arms dealing.[2][3]
Early life and background[edit | edit source]
Rehman was born in 1975 in Lyari, Karachi, situated in the Pakistani province of Sindh. He was the son of Iranian Balochi Haji Abu Da'ad Muhammad (popularly known as 'Dadal') and his third wife, Khadija Bibi.[2] Later, Iqbal "Babu" Dakait claimed to be Rehman's biological father.[4]
Being one of Karachi's oldest, most densely populated, and underdeveloped areas, Lyari has a predominantly Baloch population, alongside Kutchi Gujaratis, Sindhis, and Urdu-speaking Muhajirs. The area became a hub for crime soon after the independence of Pakistan in 1947.[4]
Dadal and his brother, Sher Muhammad (alias Sheru), were petty criminals who had been involved in drug smuggling since 1964.[1] Their operations clashed with those of Kala Nag, who controlled the Lyari drug trade at the time.[4] Following Kala Nag's death in the 1970s during a police chase, Dadal and Sheru resumed their drug peddling without major rivals until their natural deaths.[5][6][4]
Criminal activities[edit | edit source]
Gang wars[edit | edit source]
Eventually, Haji Lal Mohammad (alias Haji Laloo) and Iqbal "Babu" Dakait took control of different sections of the Lyari underworld. They frequently intimidated locals to ensure loyalty. Allah Baksh (alias Kala Nag II), son of Kala Nag, allied with the Babu Dakait Gang against Laloo. Kala Nag II was arrested in 1991 and remains imprisoned.[4]
During the 1980s, the Afghan jihad led to an influx of illegal arms into Karachi and Lyari. Armed drug peddlers began using extortion as a new revenue stream, escalating the gang conflicts.[4] Rehman joined the Laloo Gang during this period, having started drug peddling early on. He was reportedly involved in a stabbing incident at the young age of 13.[1]
The rivalry between Haji Laloo and Babu Dakait led to mutual assassination attempts. Babu hired a contract killer named Hanif Bajola to eliminate Laloo, while Laloo trained Rehman to kill Babu.[4]
According to the Sindh Police, Rehman committed his first murder on 18 September 1995—killing his own mother. Rumors suggest this happened in a fit of rage after Babu Dakait allegedly told Rehman that he had an affair with his mother and was his real father.[4][7]
The ongoing gang war resulted in the deaths of four of Babu Dakait's sons. In 1996, Babu suffered a paralytic stroke and was arrested, along with Rehman and Yasser Arafat (Laloo's son). Arshad Pappu, another son of Laloo, was also part of the gang but maintained a low profile.[4]
Drug trade and other crimes[edit | edit source]
Rehman managed to escape police custody in 1997 while being transported to a court hearing. Following his escape, the Laloo Gang expanded its operations from drug trafficking to extortion, contract killing, and kidnapping. However, internal betrayals soon caused the gang to splinter. Haji Laloo excluded Rehman from the ransom money obtained from kidnapping Saleem Memon in Kharadar. In another incident, a transporter and Rehman's friend, Faiz Mohammad (alias Faizoo), was murdered by Laloo's son Arshad Pappu for refusing to pay extortion money.[8]
When Haji Laloo was arrested in 2001, his gang split into two factions: the Baloch Gang led by Rehman Dakait, and the Pathan gang led by Arshad Pappu.[1][9]
Post-split, Rehman quickly expanded his territory beyond Lyari into Malir and Korangi, competing with other underworld groups in Karachi, including those linked to the MQM.[2] He was implicated in over 80 criminal cases, with his mentor Haji Laloo helping him secure bail in many of them.[4]
Politics[edit | edit source]
By 2008, Rehman had begun presenting himself as Sardar Abdul Rehman Baloch and emerged as a political figure in Lyari. He established the Peoples Aman Committee to ostensibly end the long-standing gang war and maintain "peace." However, the committee was also allegedly involved in criminal activities, such as securing territorial control for his gang and extortion.[2]
He aligned himself with the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP).[2] His growing influence in Lyari made him a significant player in local Karachi politics, business circles, and the PPP's political structure. Despite the PPP leadership officially denying any connection, the Aman Committee reportedly enjoyed the party's political patronage. Rehman even deployed his gang members to act as human shields for Benazir Bhutto.
Following his death, the leadership of the Aman Committee and the Baloch gang transitioned to his cousin, Uzair Baloch.[2]
Arrest and death[edit | edit source]
As the Sindh Police struggled to curb the gang wars and crime in Lyari, they established an "Industrial Crime Unit" in 2004. However, it failed to achieve its goals and was disbanded by November 2005, replaced by the "Lyari Task Force".[4]
Rehman was arrested in November 2008 in Jinnah Town, Quetta, which sparked protests outside the Karachi Press Club.[4] He later managed to escape police custody.[10]
On 9 August 2009, SP Chaudhry Aslam Khan and his police team intercepted Rehman and his associates—Aqeel Baloch, Aurangzaib Baba, and Nazir Bala. A late-night shootout ensued, leaving Rehman and his accomplices severely injured; they died before reaching the hospital.[10][11][12][13] His death was widely alleged to be a fake police encounter (extrajudicial killing).[10][2] Pakistani politician Zulfiqar Mirza later stated that he was responsible for orchestrating Rehman's death and expressed regret over it.[14] Aslam was renowned for being the sole surviving officer from the anti-crime "Operation Cleanup" of the 1990s against the Muhajir Qaumi Movement, as other participating officers were killed in subsequent targeted attacks by MQM-affiliated militants.[2][15]
Legacy[edit | edit source]
Rehman's death created a tense atmosphere in Lyari. His funeral was attended by thousands of people, many of whom regard him as a Robin Hood-like figure. He is remembered by some for distributing wealth from his criminal enterprises among the impoverished residents of Lyari.[10]
Under the leadership of his cousin Uzair Baloch, the People's Aman Committee expanded its political and criminal influence further, until Uzair's arrest in 2015.[2]
In March 2024, Rehman's son Sarban Baloch and his associate Maqsood were shot dead in south Karachi near Nabi Bux police station. Police claimed Sarban was wanted in several cases, including murder, drug trafficking, kidnapping, and extortion. Sarban was the son of Rehman's second wife, who later married a local construction worker after Rehman's death.[16]
On 2 February 2026, another of Rehman's sons, Jibran Baloch, was arrested by Kalakot Police in Karachi. He was found in possession of two pistols and ammunition. Police described him as a repeat offender with a history of arrests.[17]
Personal life[edit | edit source]
Much like his father Dadal, Rehman also entered into three marriages. It is estimated that he had around seventeen children.[2]
In popular culture[edit | edit source]
Rehman's life inspired the 2025 Indian spy action thriller duology Dhurandhar and its sequel Dhurandhar: The Revenge, both based on Operation Lyari. He is a central character in the first film and makes a cameo appearance in the second. His character was played by Akshaye Khanna.[18][7][19]
The cinematic portrayal of Rehman Dakait in Dhurandhar has sparked varied emotions and reactions among audiences, leading to widespread discussions about his real-life persona and legacy.[20][7][21][22]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Kingdom of fear". The Express Tribune. 18 July 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 "سردار، ڈکیت یا سیاستدان" [Chieftain, dacoit or politician]. BBC Urdu (in اردو). 2009-08-10. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
- ↑ "Dhurandhar: Real-life Uzair Baloch inherited Rehman Dakait's gang after his encounter; played football with gangster Arshad Pappu's severed head". The Indian Express. 19 December 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 "The Legend of Rahman Dakait & Lyari Gang War". Sindh Times. 20 November 2008. Archived from the original on 2009-03-25. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
- ↑ "Life comes full circle for Lyari's mafiosi". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- ↑ "Daily News". The News International.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Dhurandhar: Real-life Rehman Dakait killed mother at 15, was Lyari's 'king' at 21, this is what happened after his encounter". The Indian Express. 16 December 2025. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ↑ "Story". Daily Pakistan. 20 December 2006.
- ↑ "Rehman Dakait and Arshad Pappu : Lyari Gang War". The Pakistani Spectator. Archived from the original on 2010-05-06. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 "Question mark over killing of Lyari 'gangster'". Dawn. 2009-08-11. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
- ↑ "Rehman Dakait, three others killed in Karachi: police". Dawn. 2009-08-10. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
- ↑ Sharma, Radhika (16 December 2025). "Dhurandhar: How Rehman Dakait Was Killed By Chaudhry Aslam After A Years-Long Chase Through Lyari". NDTV.
- ↑ "Rehman Dakait, three others killed in Karachi: police". Dawn. Archived from the original on 2009-09-17. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
- ↑ "Mirza interview: The hits just keep on coming". The Express Tribune. 2011-09-04. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
- ↑ "Profile: Chaudhry Aslam". Dawn. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ Ali, Imtiaz (2024-03-12). "Son of slain gangster Rehman Dakait shot dead in 'encounter' in Karachi". Dawn. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
- ↑ "Rehman Dakait's son arrested in Karachi with illegal weapons". dunyanews.tv. 2026-02-02. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
- ↑ "Ranveer Singh shares Akshaye Khanna's viral entry song from Dhurandhar, fans call it a 'banger'". Hindustan Times. 7 December 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ Sonika Nitin Nimje. "How Akshaye Khanna's Rehman Dakait emerged as Dhurandhar's surprise hero". Business standard. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ↑ "True story of Rehman Dakait: Villain in 'Dhurandhar' who killed mother, turned severed heads into football". Mathtrubhumi. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
- ↑ "Who was the real 'Rehman Dakait' and what role did he play in 26/11 Mumbai terror attack?". WION News. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
- ↑ "The Real-Life Rehman Dakait And The Pak Town That Spawned Him". NDTV. Retrieved 2026-04-02.