Islamabad: Thirteen people died in overnight clashes between rival ethnic groups in Pakistan's largest city Karachi, taking the death toll in four days of violence to more than 50, rescue workers said Tuesday.
The violence erupted Saturday ahead of a by-election for a provincial seat in Sindh, of which Karachi is the capital, between the groups representing the majority Urdu-speaking population and minority Pashtu-speaking people.
Most of the killing Monday and Tuesday took place when armed men kidnapped members of the opposing factions and dumped their bodies after executing them. One policeman in plain clothes was hit by a stray bullet.
"Seven people died Monday and since this morning we have moved six bodies to the hospitals," said Qamar Parvez, a spokesman of the private Edhi rescue service. "Most of the bodies had bullet wounds."
Parvez said over 50 people have died in the recent wave of targeted killing. Dozens more are injured.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the party that represents the Urdu-speaking group, has blamed most of the political violence on supporters of the Awami National Party (ANP), a charge the Pashtu party denies.
Both groupings have a long history of violence. In August, 100 people died in clashes that started after gunmen shot dead Raza Haider, an MQM provincial lawmaker. The MQM accused the ANP of being responsible for the killing.
IANS
First Published: Tuesday, October 19, 2010, 18:38