Karachi death toll rises to 31 as three shot dead

KARACHI: In the latest episode of target killings, two people were shot dead in Surjani town and one in North Karachi taking the toll up to 31 in the last five days.

Earlier, four people were shot dead following an attack on the office of a political party in Gulistan-e-Johar.

The recent murders began when unidentified men opened fire at an MQM unit office, injuring at least five people including three political workers. The injured were rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, but one MQM worker succumbed to his wounds.

Rangers and police arrived at the scene to control the situation. Following the shootout, shop owners closed up and people remained inside their houses.

Three more people were then shot dead in Sarjani and Maleer Shamsi Towns, while a body was recovered by the police in Shah Faisal colony.

MQM chief Altaf Hussain and the ANP leadership have condemned the attack on MQM's unit office, while Interior Minister Rehman Malik has taken notice of the incident and ordered a joint investigation team to probe the matter.