Pakistan faces a range of internal and external security challenges. While there has been significant concern regarding the ongoing law-and-order situation due to continuous terrorist attacks, the country also grapples with an internal security issue: banditry (known locally as dacoity). Bandit rule, or Daku Raj, is particularly notorious in northern Sindh Province and southern Punjab Province.
Over the years, bandit rule has taken hold in the riverine belt commonly known as the Kacha area. This region spans three districts in Sindh – Kashmore, Ghotki, and Shikarpur – and extends into Southern Punjab, covering Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, and Rahim Yar Khan. The river network in the area was formed as a result of changes made to the irrigation system by British colonial rule in the early 20th century.
Previously resembling irrigation plains, the area was transformed by the irrigation system in the lower Indus region, particularly below Kot Mithan in South Punjab. Now it suffers from regular flooding during the monsoon season. In the summer, the Indus River overflows its banks. In contrast, during the winter, the river shrinks to a thin stream, leaving both banks dry. This land is utilized for cultivation.
The recurring floods have left the Kacha area devoid of proper infrastructure, making it difficult for the general public to access. This region has thus become a natural hideout for bandits.
Since the 1980s, bandit rule has been firmly established along the riverine belt. There are rumors, especially in Sindh, that during the era of military dictator General Zia ul Haq, the government intentionally sheltered these bandits in the Kacha area. This move was intended to weaken the Pakistan People’s Party in Sindh, particularly after the successful “Movement for the Restoration of Democracy.” Since then, bandit rule in the area has never been completely eradicated, despite many operations by law enforcement agencies. Bandits have become infamous for conducting raids to plunder, commit murders, and kidnap people before disappearing into their shelters established along the river.
Today, the bandits are equipped with modern weaponry – reportedly including weapons left behind by the United States during its hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan – which makes it more difficult to carry out a successful clearance operation. A police officer told The Express Tribune, the bandits “have better weapons than ours [the police force’s] and this is the ground reality… The bandits have mortars, RPGs [rocket-propelled grenades] and anti-aircraft guns. The weapons they possess can even blow up an armoured vehicle.”
Due to their increasing notoriety, residents of the districts in the Kacha area habitually restrict their movements after sunset, only leaving their homes for emergencies. People from neighboring districts avoid unnecessary travel to these areas, even during the daytime. There is a growing fear of being mugged or even kidnapped at any time of day.
These bandits often target Hindus – not only for kidnapping for ransom but also for extortion in the form of “protection money,” as many members of this minority community are traders by profession. The bandits obtain lists of affluent individuals within the Hindu business community from local intermediaries, then they issue extortion demands accompanied by deadlines and threats if the demanded amounts are not paid on time. Typically, those targeted feel compelled to comply with the demands, fearing for their safety.
Bandits have also been known to set “honey traps,” which involves using women to lure men. Once the targets arrive, the bandits kidnap them and hold them for ransom. Despite public warnings from the police, many men still fall victim to these schemes.
With the increasing prevalence of social media across Pakistan, bandits often record videos of their victims – often in poor health with visible injuries – to pressure their families into arranging the ransom without involving law enforcement agencies. The gangs torture the victims so that they appeal to their families to pay the demanded amount to their kidnappers. These videos often go viral on the different social media platforms, which signals that they are not only meant for victims’ families – the intent is spreading fear among the masses, particularly in but not limited to the areas surrounding the riverine belt along the Indus.
As part of this psychological campaign, the bandits have also taken to social media to make fun of authorities. They launched their own YouTube channel to openly mock law enforcement agencies for their ineptitude. Bandit gangs also have a presence on other platforms including Facebook and TikTok, where they frequently post content pertaining to social injustices. Posts often criticize the “feudal system” in Pakistan, which the bandits claim compelled them to take up weapons.
Bandit rule has become notorious over the decades, instilling a permanent fear in the minds of people in Pakistan. Although there have been periods of peace, Pakistan is in the middle of an upsurge in such criminal activity. There is an urgent need for effective police operations against the bandits; however, it is often alleged that these criminals are supported by local influential figures, including political leaders and police officials. Putting an end to bandit rule in the Kacha area will require not only political willpower but also a strategic approach to ensure a long-term peace.