Another feared gangster — long regarded as a symbol of terror in the narrow streets of Karachi’s Old Golimar and its surrounding areas — has met a violent end in a police encounter.
The story of Anwar, alias Kojak, followed a familiar and predictable trajectory often witnessed in Karachi’s criminal underworld. It was a journey that did not begin with guns or bloodshed, but with chai pani (serving tea and food), minor errands, and silent loyalty to powerful criminals — before spiraling into notoriety and violence.
A local resident of Old Golimar, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the Old Golimar area originally consisted of around 18 small settlements, or goths, one of which was Maula Dad Village — the birthplace of Kojak.
“Since his (Kojak) area was near Khajji Ground, and at the time a political party had also tried to assert control over these neighbourhoods, Kojak early in his criminal career was initially affiliated with a political group. This was also due to his association with Arshad Pappu, as Kojak had ties with the Pappu gang,” he explained.
Later, Kojak became associated with Sajid and Majid, who were close to the brothers-in-law of notorious Rehman Dakait as well as Arafat, the brother of Arshad Pappu. Eventually, a conflict arose between Kojak and the Sajid-Majid group, which escalated into a gang war.
The resident added: “Here, it’s very difficult to track which group is active and who is allied with whom — the situation is somewhat different from Lyari. From what I’ve heard, Kojak’s last known affiliation was with Bilal Pappu, Arshad Pappu’s son, who operated in Jahanabad and surrounding areas. However, Kojak had been underground for the past five to six years and was reportedly living a low-profile life in Faqir Colony, Orangi Town. He had only recently returned and may have been attempting to become active again before his encounter.”
Kojak’s last major clash in Old Golimar dates back to the period before the launch of Karachi Operation in 2013. At that time, Sajid led a gang in Old Golimar, and Kojak entered the area by expelling members of Sajid’s group. Later, Kojak’s gang was overpowered by Sharif, also known as Zikri or Agha Pathan, who went on to establish his own drug den called Agha Pathan Ka Adda.
Kojak’s primary criminal activities were reportedly in drugs and extortion. Old Golimar and Jahanabad areas are notorious for drug trafficking, and as the area is also a major market for marble and stone, it became a hotspot for extortion activities.
The most-wanted criminal was killed during an exchange of fire with the Keamari police in Old Golimar. Keamari SSP Amjad Ahmed Sheikh confirmed Kojak’s death in details of the encounter shared with the media.
He said the encounter occurred when the Pak Colony Police confronted an armed suspect who opened fire on the police party. As the police returned fire, the suspect was killed on the spot. He was identified as Anwar, alias Kojak, a key operative and shooter of the Lyari gang led by notorious extortionist Jamal Chhanga.
Police said Kojak was wanted in more than 17 serious criminal cases. Weapons, including a pistol, rifle and ammunition, were seized from his possession.
SSP Sheikh stated that Kojak was involved in multiple heinous crimes, including kidnapping, extortion, possession of explosive material, murder, attempted murder, robbery, illegal weapons, narcotics trafficking, and firing on police. Police record revealed that the suspect had previously been arrested by the Kalri and Pak Colony police, and Special Investigation Unit C.
According to former Pak Colony SHO Haji Sanaullah, Kojak’s criminal beginnings were no different from those of many notorious gangsters. “Anwar Kojak basically started his criminal career the same way most big gangsters do,” he recalled. “It begins with serving tea and water to gangsters and drug peddlers, acting as an informer, supplying drugs, and later handing guns to young recruits and placing them on rooftops and pickets. That’s how Anwar Kojak began.”
Kojak also came seriously onto the police radar in 2011, when he was arrested by then Pak Colony SHO Naeem Khan, now retired DSP, in a carefully planned operation timed around Friday prayers.
“We had intelligence that he would come to offer Friday prayers, so we set up pickets accordingly,” Khan told The News. “The problem was that Kojak knew me by face, so I placed the late Rizvia police station SHO, Zafar Khan, at the front, while I stayed inside the APC.” As soon as the prayers ended, Kojak attempted to leave the Masjid. “The shocking part was that he was carrying two pistols even during prayers,” Khan said.
As police advanced, Kojak drew his weapons. In a moment of panic, one pistol slipped from his hand, while the second remained under his control. “He tried to pull the trigger,” Khan recalled. “That’s when I immediately placed my gun on his head and ordered him to surrender. He had no option but to comply.”
However, the arrest did not bring his criminal career to an end. At the time, Pak Colony fell under Liaquatabad Town’s jurisdiction, and large-scale protests erupted over his arrest as an attempt to exert pressure on law enforcement agencies. He eventually secured bail and was released.
According to Khan, Kojak had also been named in the murder case of Nisar Baloch. On November 7, 2009, Nisar Baloch — a leading figure of the Gutter Baghicha Bachao Tehreek and member of NGO Shehri — was shot in the head by unidentified assailants while leaving his residence. However, the former Pak Colony SHO clarified that Kojak was not directly involved in Baloch’s killing.
“Anwar Kojak was not directly involved in the murder of Nisar Baloch. His role was limited to intelligence-gathering and passing on information — or facilitation at most,” Khan explained. “However, in the murder of Mehran, a transporter, Anwar Kojak was directly involved.”
Khan also revealed that Munawar — real brother of Anwar Kojak popularly known as Munawar Pathan — was killed by the Sajid-Majid group.
