Pakistan

Target killings sweep Karachi

At least 11 people shot dead in various areas of Karachi, as violence grips provincial metropolis.

Express March 20, 2011

KARACHI: At least 11 people were shot dead in various areas of Karachi Sunday, as violence continues to grip the provincial metropolis.

Police record shows that the death toll as a result of target killing has swelled to 28 in the last three days.

In the latest incidents, unidentified men opened fire on the public near Disco Bakery in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area. Two citizens were killed while six others were injured in the incident. Firing has been reported in Saeedabad as well, where one person has been reportedly killed.

In Gulistan-e-Johar, a 30-year-old man has been killed in a similar fashion. Separately, two people have been gunned down in densely populated Lyari Town.

A police head constable has also been killed in Sohrab Goth.

Earlier, unidentified men killed a person in Lyari while another person was shot dead near People's stadium. A policeman was gunned down in Sohrab Goth while one person fell prey to a shooting in the Purana Golimaar area. On Saturday, unidentified people attacked the offices of two political parties separately with grenades in Soldier Market and Ranchore.

MQM demands action

MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar on Sunday said that MQM workers were being killed in Karachi. He called on the government to step in to stop the ongoing violence.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Sattar described the details of the latest incidents of violence against MQM workers. He said that several workers have been killed in various areas of Karachi.

As stated in the press release provided by the MQM:

An MQM worker Ghulam Hussain Jafri s/o Muhammad Hussain Jafri of unit 167 of Nazimabad Gulbahar Sector was attacked by armed assailants involved in terrorism and drug peddling resulting in his death.

Another MQM worker Muhammad Shafi was severely injured in the same incident. According to eye-witness accounts 24 years old Ghulam Hussain Jafri and Muhammad Shafi were sitting in a park when the terrorists fired upon them from very close range. Ghulam Hussain Jafri died on the spot while Muhammad Shafi was injured and was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medical attention.

Farooq Sattar alleged that criminal elements were continuously threatening MQM workers. He said that the MQM has decided to remain calm for the sake of peace in the city. He asked the authorities to step in and play their role in restoration of peace in the city.

COMMENTS (11)

MUSSADIQ | 13 years ago | Reply Everyone knows who is behind these target killing, everything is going according to plan our local culprits are being involved for completion of their agenda. Party leaders are also involved. There is only one way we can be saved otherwise we will be washed out, beg forgiveness from Allah and try to give up sins and offer pray in Tahajud.

Maulana Diesel | 13 years ago | Reply This is beyond fixing....a massive operation needs to be done ASAP. Cleanup this city once and for all.....

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Wamiq Haider | 13 years ago | Reply Despite of what president said and what a certain political party is doing, when law keepers are being ignorant and scared, who can we depend on. Many of you are referring to news and sighting but just about 2 weeks back, right outside my residence, as I walked to my car along with my younger brother. A mob in attempt to close shops and set their message straight for observing curfew next day after a shot in air opened straight fire on crowd, I missed a bullet on my shoulder but my brother got hit. Police patrol van was hardly 200 meters away and they stood on spot turning down their flashers and lights and ran away. On rush to nearest dispensary, another patrol van stopped to know why there is a mob, started OFF on a harsh note and as they were told a person is injured and has a bullet wound they ran away running over the crowd.

Ali | 13 years ago | Reply This is what angers me. What did the liberal inteligentsia, newspaper columnists, lawyers think (sham) democracy was going to bring to Pakistan? I constantly heard catch phrases like building democratic institutions, stengthening democracy. Even if we give the PML PPP a hundred years they will never achieve anything. We will be stuck in the same malaise as 1988-1999.

Fareedi | 13 years ago | Reply PPP and MQM should pitty the poor of Karachi. They shall kiss and make it up for the thousandth time, but someone lost a husband, father, brother and son. Why have we become such heartless people? "Khoon e Nahaq"

shahzad janjuah | 13 years ago | Reply I think it's time that every person male or female should have a weapon to protect him/herself. These terrorist get bigger upon us since they know we can't reply them. If tomorrow they know that we or anyone besides us will or can retaliate then they will not play around us. The best defense is attack sometimes.

10th | 13 years ago | Reply Note to self: Never get involved in Pakistani politics

A R Khan | 13 years ago | Reply This is very shocking and very sad. I do not live in Karachi but it pains me read such news of violence in Karachi every few months. I worry constantly about all my friends and my sister who live and work in Karachi.

Chilli | 13 years ago | Reply The dirty game of power between MQM ANP and PPP is costing lives of peaceful citizens. We will live with these corrupt government with useless ministers who cannot control this situation. This is the biggest joke of the century that powers in coalition are fighting in streets.Wake up Pakistan. These corrupt politicians are fooling Pakistanis.

Abdul Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Lives and property of people of Karachi needs to be protected.

Nasir Jamal | 13 years ago | Reply All of a sudden Karachi has been gripped by violence and killings. This is despite the fact that the President had assured swift and across the board action against the terrorists and criminal elements in the city. Thus far about the politics of reconciliation. We are fed up with the situation.

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