14 killed as violence grips Karachi again

Karachi, Jan 14 (PTI) As many as 14 people have beenkilled and dozens others injured as a spate of target killingsand widespread violence gripped Pakistan''s biggest city sincelast night.

The fresh bout of violence erupted in Pakistan''sfinancial hub after an attack on a leading leader of the AwamiNational Party last night in which he was wounded and hisbodyguard killed in Gharibabad area.

Shortly after the attack on Bashir Jan, a youngreporter of Geo News television, Wali Babar was killed inLiaquatabad area and since then the violence escalated withthe police and para-military rangers failing to control thesituation in many parts of the city.

The target killings left the city tense, with peoplepreferring to stay indoors out of fear for more violence.

"The killings have taken place in different parts ofthe city including Korangi, Malir, Khwaja Ajmer Nagri andBanaras," a senior police official said.

A bus in Banaras was fired at, killing six commuterson the spot and two men were killed in separate incidents offiring in Liaquatabad and Banaras metroville.

Another man was shot dead by unidentified gunmen inKorangi Chakro.

Late at night in Orangi Town, a man was killed byfiring, while the body of an unidentified man was found nearJam Sadiq bridge this morning.

Maj (Retd) Iqbal Kashmiri, who was the pilot of SindhChief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah''s helicopter, was shot atand killed by unknown attackers in front of Rabia City,Gulistan-e-Jauhar.

The ANP and the Mutthaida Qaumi Movement blamed eachother for the violence and target killings.

Faisal Sanzwari a MQM leader said that armedterrorists are on the loose in Karachi, who have the fullsupport of the ANP, and appealed to the government to resolvethe situation.

He further said that the ANP leadership is givingreckless statements to worsen the situation in the city.

ANP President Karachi Shahi Syed said that eight ofhis party workers have been killed in the recent spate ofviolence.

He said that steps have to be taken without anypolitical bias involved to attain peace in Karachi.

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