Karachi violence: 21 killed in firing incidents

Killings took place after an attack on ANP Deputy General Secretary Bashir Jan.

KARACHI: Twenty-one people have been killed and several have been injured in target killing incidents in Karachi since Thursday night as parts of the city remain tense due to rampant violence.

Wali Khan Babar, a young reporter, was killed after being shot five times near Liaquatabad market on his way home. DIG West Sultan Khawaja has appointed a team of three SSP's to investigate the journalist's killing.

A bus in Banaras was fired at, killing six commuters on the spot and two men were killed in separate incidents of firing in Liaquatabad and Banaras metroville, while another man was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Korangi Chakro.

Late at night in Orangi Town, a man was killed by firing, while the body of an unidentified man was found near Jam Sadiq bridge Friday morning.

Meanwhile leaders from both parties, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Awami National Party (ANP) have blamed each other for the rise in target killings.

MQM leader Faisal Subzwari said that armed terrorists are on the loose in Karachi, who have the full support of the ANP, and appealed to the government to resolve the situation. He further said that the ANP leadership is giving reckless statements to worsen the situation in the city.

Earlier ANP President Karachi Shahi Syed said that eight of his party workers have been killed in the recent spate of violence. He said that steps have to be taken without any political bias involved to attain peace in Karachi.

Syed said that Karachi needs to be cleansed of all weapons and the army needs to conduct an operation for that.

Updated from print edition (below)

Fresh violence: At least 8 killed in firing incidents

Fresh violence erupted in Karachi late Thursday, with at least eight people killed and over 15 injured in firing incidents in different parts of the metropolis.

The killings took place shortly after an attack on Awami National Party (ANP) Deputy General Secretary Bashir Jan in the Hassan Square area.

Most of the firing incidents took place in parts of Orangi Town, including Banaras, Bukhari Colony, Kati Pahari. One Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) worker Hammad, who was also said to be a relative of MQM leader Shoaib Bukhari, was shot dead in the Liaquatabad area.

Four bodies and eight injured were brought to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, three bodies and two injured to Civil Hospital Karachi and one body and seven injured to Qatar Hospital.

Law enforcement agencies were put on high alert following the incidents.

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