Target killings: MQM walks out of Assembly as death toll climbs to 18

MQM protests target killings as 16 men are gunned down, nearly half a dozen injured in Orangi.

KARACHI:

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) staged a walk-out from the proceeding of National Assembly on Tuesday, in protest against the renewed spate of violence in Karachi.

Raising a point of order in the National Assembly, MQM MNA Haider Abbas Rizvi voiced serious concerns over the fresh wave of terrorism in Karachi, saying the city had been once again left at the mercy of terrorists.

Rizvi called Karachi the economic engine of the country and the centre of gravity for overall national growth. Efforts to destablise Karachi would amount to destablising the rest of Pakistan, he added.

The death toll from target killings in the metropolitan city rose to 18 in 24 hours.

Incidents of violence in Qasbah colony, Aligarh and Orangi Town have forced people to stay indoors as hardly any traffic can be seen in these areas.

Two minors were killed in Orangi Town when they were caught in the cross fire of a clash between rival groups while two kids were hit by gunfire at Shaheen Hotel near Qasba Mor.

Police and Rangers personnel have been deployed in these areas for security.

Updated from print edition (below)

MQM man’s murder triggers violence

At least five men were gunned down, while over half a dozen others were injured in violence triggered in Orangi Town after the killing of an All Pakistan Muttahida Students Organisation (APMSO) worker on Monday.

Armed men shot dead 36-year-old Shafiq Ahmed Qureshi, who was affiliated with the APMSO, a student wing of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), near his house in Aligarh Colony. He was also the leader of the Aligarh Bazaar Association. The victim’s body was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH).

The killing triggered violence and firing was reported in several parts of Orangi.

Meanwhile, 40-year-old Akbar, who was affiliated with an MQM sub-organisation, the Muttahida Organising Committee, was gunned down in Pirabad.

Over half a dozen people were injured, while one body was taken to Civil Hospital, Karachi. ASH medico-legal office sources said Adeel and Abdul Ghafoor were brought in injured from Orangi, while Alamgir, 25, Abdul Ghaffar, 35, Roshan Ali, 22, Saad, 25, were admitted.

The body of 22-year-old Faiz Mohammad was taken to CHK. According to CHK MLO Dr Qarar Abbasi, Faiz was shot dead in Orangi. Separately, Ashfaq was killed, while Amir and Farooq were injured in Qasba Colony.

The Malir City police found the body of an abducted Awami National Party (ANP) activist, identified as Asmatullah Kakar. The police said the victim was beaten and shot twice

Residents of Orangi were confined to their homes. “There is a limit to everything. We are tired of the continuous clashes between the [two linguistic groups],” complained a resident.

Another resident said that the law enforcement agencies have failed to protect the people. “If they do not know how to protect people then why don’t they leave their posts and take on other jobs,” he fumed.

Rangers reportedly disappeared from Orangi Town. “The Rangers are not doing their part. People are murdering one another but no one knows where the Rangers are,” said Orangi SP Khurram Waris.

“Such people should not simply be caught but killed if they are taking the lives of innocent people,” he added.

The SP said only three to four additional posts were set up in Orangi town, while nearly over one dozen are still pending. “We told the government repeatedly to make more check posts but no one paid attention. The few set up are also ineffective,” he said.

“There is not a single Ranger out on the streets. Maybe they are trying to show us how valuable they are,” said Orangi DSP Majeed Abbas.

The DSP said the violence was ethnocentric. “There is firing from both sides so what does this mean,” he replied when he was asked about the nature of the violence.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2011.