Target killings: Violence in Orangi continues on day two

Two ANP men, an MQM activist among five killed.

KARACHI:

Orangi Town remained on edge after at least five people, including two Awami National Party (ANP) supporters and a Muttahida Qaumi Movement supporter, were gunned down on Tuesday.

On the second consecutive day of violence in the neighbourhood, the death toll rose to 10 and the area echoed with gunshots. The violence escalated after the target killing of MQM worker, Shafiq, on Monday.

On Tuesday, Wajid Shoaib, 15, and Adnan Khan, 16, were injured by stray bullets near Shaheen Hotel in Qasba Colony. Both of them were taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where they succumbed to their injuries. ANP Sindh spokesman Qadir Khan confirmed that the two teenagers are affiliated with the party.

Shortly after this incident, unidentified men opened fire at the same hotel and killed one of the employees, Nazar Muhammad. At least four other workers were injured.

Junaid, 30, believed to be an MQM supporter was also gunned down near Shehzad Cinema. Pirabad police said a man, Amir, and a woman, Shahida, were also injured in the incident. Meanwhile, there were reports that a house was also set on fire in Pirabad.

Earlier, a 42-year-old man who was yet to be identified was gunned down in the 1-C area of Orangi. His body was shifted to the Edhi morgue.

Some residents claimed that armed men are intercepting buses, cars and motorcycles at Qasba Colony, Banaras and Kati Pahari, where they torture people belonging to a certain ethnic group. Orangi Town SP Khurram Waris also said that violence on the basis of ethnicity has started again after the murder of the MQM worker on Monday. He said that the police have controlled the situation in some parts of Orangi but several areas are still gripped by violence.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2011.