Of all the responsibilities the state owes to its people, security for lives and livelihoods is fundamental. However, in the Kashmore district of Sindh, this responsibility appears to have been implicitly delegated to outlaws, who exploit it through extortion or protection money.

For decades, misgovernance and the state's deliberate apathy, coupled with its entrenched tribal and feudal dynamics, have eroded state authority, effectively ceding control to tribal and feudal warlords and the political elite, and leaving public services and infrastructure in a shambles. To consolidate their socio-political and economic gains and undermine opponents, local warlords have patronised criminal gangs, which have unleashed criminality with near impunity for years.

The years of extortion and kidnapping have adversely affected the lives and livelihoods of Kashmore's peaceful population, forcing many to flee the district for safety. For instance, the HRCP 2024 report suggests that 300 Hindus, not to mention Muslims, have left the district due to........

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