Battleground: Markets close after gun fight erupts

KARACHI: Firing broke out between the members of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) and Awami National Party on Tuesday at Empress Market. A heavy contingent of law enforcers reached the site and the police launched a search operation in Empress Market and Al-Malik building which is near it. Over a dozen suspects were held in the operation. South District SSP Naeem Sheikh said that no casualties were reported, adding that it was a routine clash between the groups to get control of the market. He said that PMAP’s Abdul Nawab was wounded a couple of days ago in another clash over the same dispute. The overall situation was under control and cases would be registered against members of both groups, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2012.