From Dhurandhar to real life: How Rehman Dakait kidnapped and killed Dawood Ibrahim’s brother in 2009

The release of Dhurandhar has reopened some of the darkest chapters of Karachi’s underworld, bringing renewed attention to crimes long buried in secrecy and fear. Among them is the alleged killing of Noor ul Haq alias Noora, the brother of fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim, an episode that Indian intelligence agencies have for years linked to Pakistan-based gangster Rehman Dakait.

As audiences respond to Akshaye Khanna’s chilling portrayal of Rehman Baloch, real-world accounts suggest that the man who inspired the character was far more brutal than fiction allows. The murder of Dawood’s brother, marked by claims of abduction, torture and execution, stands as one of the most audacious acts attributed to Rehman Dakait and offers a grim window into the violent power struggles that once defined Lyari and Karachi’s criminal landscape.

According to intelligence assessments cited by Indian agencies, Rehman Dakait abducted Noor ul Haq, the younger brother of fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim, subjected him to severe torture and later shot him multiple times in the head. His body was reportedly dumped near Dawood Ibrahim’s residence in Karachi as a direct message to the D Company chief.

At the time, Dawood Ibrahim’s family claimed that Noor ul Haq had died of cardiac arrest. Indian agencies, however, rejected that account, insisting that the murder bore the hallmarks of Lyari’s gang warfare and Rehman Dakait’s signature brutality.

The allegation has come back into focus as Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna, revisits the violent underworld of late 2000s Karachi. Khanna’s character, Rehman Baloch, is widely seen as a cinematic adaptation of Rehman Dakait, whose reign of terror once dominated Lyari.

Rehman Dakait, born Sardar Abdul Rehman Baloch in 1975, emerged from Lyari’s criminal ecosystem and became one of Pakistan’s most feared gang leaders. He began his criminal career at a young age, initially involved in narcotics and street crime, before rising rapidly through Karachi’s underworld.

By the early 2000s, Rehman had taken control of the gang once led by Haji Laloo, expanding operations into extortion, contract killings, drug trafficking and political intimidation. His influence extended beyond Lyari, often bringing him into conflict with rival gangs and powerful criminal syndicates.

Indian and Pakistani media reports from that period describe Rehman Dakait as exceptionally violent, even by gangland standards. His associates, including Uzair Baloch and Baba Ladla, were feared for their methods, which were designed to instill terror and reinforce dominance in contested neighbourhoods.

The killing of Dawood Ibrahim’s brother marked a significant escalation. Analysts believe the episode reflected not just a personal rivalry but a broader power struggle between Karachi’s criminal factions. Targeting Dawood’s family was seen as an audacious move that underscored Rehman Dakait’s confidence and ruthlessness.

Rehman Dakait was killed in a police encounter in August 2009 during an operation in Karachi. He was 34 at the time. After his death, his cousin Uzair Baloch took over parts of the network, though Lyari continued to witness cycles of violence and crackdowns.

With Dhurandhar drawing attention back to Karachi’s gang wars, the allegation surrounding Noor ul Haq’s murder has reignited discussions about the real-life crimes that inspired the film. While the movie fictionalises several events, the accusation that Rehman Dakait ordered the killing of Dawood Ibrahim’s brother remains one of the most chilling chapters associated with his legacy.