Target killings: City loses more residents, some areas close down

Over 20 suspects rounded up in a search operation in Orangi Town.

KARACHI: As the city lost more residents to target killings, some areas closed down in protest and people resorted to aerial firing all through Saturday.

At least 24 people, including political activists, were injured in sporadic incidents of violence. The situation in the city turned from bad to worse when a news reporter was gunned down in Liaquatabad on Thursday night.

Neighbourhoods in Orangi Town, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, North Nazimabad, North Karachi, Qasba Colony, Kati Pahari, Pirabad, Manghopir, Abul Hassan Isphani Road, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Pehlwan Goth, Sharae Faisal, Malir, Saudabad, New Karachi and other areas were tense on Saturday. Businesses remained partially closed and frequent gunshots forced people to stay indoors. The worst affected areas were Orangi Town and Gulistan-e-Jauhar.

Traffic on main arteries also remained thin following the target killing of two more people. A heavy contingent of law enforcers was deployed around these neighbourhoods with orders to enhance patrolling and snap-checking.

More than 20 suspects were detained in a late-night search operation in Orangi Town and its adjacent areas. The operation was carried out by the police and Rangers, who claimed that they seized weapons from the suspects as well. The police officials said that the operation was carried out to arrest target killers. Later, the suspects were moved to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

Police officials also claimed to have arrested around six accused allegedly involved in the attack on the Awami National Party leader, Bashir Jan. The suspects who fired at a passenger bus on Qasba Morr and killed seven people, were also arrested, the police claimed.

Two of the suspects are detained in injured condition from Qatar Hospital, Orangi Town, after they were arrested in separate raids in Orangi Town and Gulshan-e-Iqbal.  Officials added that some more search operations would be carried out soon.

Violent start to a new year

Over two dozen people, including activists of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Pakistan Peoples Party and Awami National Party, have been targeted and killed in the city since the assassination of the news reporter. Since the start of the year, around 17 people, including a policeman, have lost their lives.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement lost its joint sector incharge  Syed Adil Jaffery, a former unit incharge, Yawer Abbas and at least three more activists, Shakir Ali, Adil Sattar and Sajjad Ahmed, were killed in Manghopir on January 12. The Awami National Party lost two activists, including their al Falah ward president, Aziz Sahir Khan, and his assistant, Tariq and three more activists on January 12. The Mohajir Qaumi Movement - Haqiqi also lost an activist.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th,  2011.