Karachi: Unidentified assailants shot
dead 11 more people in the Pakistani port city of Karachi,
taking the death toll in clashes between workers of rival
political groups to 39 over the past three days.
The killings have increased tensions between the
Pakistan People's Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement,
which has threatened to quit the PPP-led coalitions at the
centre and in Sindh province.
The violence is being seen as a turf war between the
PPP and MQM for greater control over Karachi, Pakistan's main
economic hub.
Police said fierce clashes and indiscriminate firing
were reported from Lyari, Garden and others parts of Karachi
yesterday and 11 more people were gunned down in the latest
violence.
Several more were injured in the violence.
PPP's Karachi division president Najmi Alam said
three workers of his party were among those killed yesterday.
MQM leaders, on the other hand, have alleged their
supporters are victims of "target killings".
They have called for the army to be brought in to
quell the violence.
The violence prompted Prime Minister Yousuf Raza
Gilani to contact MQM's London-based chief Altaf Hussain on
phone yesterday. The two leaders agreed to play their role in
restoring peace and tranquillity in Karachi so that normalcy
returns to the city.
Gilani and Hussain said they would ask members of
their respective parties to avoid provocation and play their
role in restoring peace in Karachi.
Sindh Governor Ishrat-ul-Ebad, a senior leader of the
MQM, has convened a meeting today of all political parties to
discuss measures to calm tensions.
Gun battles and aerial firing have been witnessed in
many parts of Karachi's old quarters over the past three days
and gunmen also attacked security personnel.
The situation in several neighbourhoods dominated by
the PPP and MQM was described as tense by law enforcement
officials.
The violence also sparked riots and protesters hurled
stones at vehicles and torched a car.
Commercial activities and normal life were affected
by the tensions.
Residents of Lyari, a neighbourhood dominated by the
PPP, organised a rally against the Sindh government and
criticised the party's leadership for the law and order
situation.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, January 10, 2010, 17:38