Fresh political violence kill 10 in Karachi

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Fresh political violence in Pakistan's commercial capital has claimed 10 lives, as target killings continue unabated here despite shoot at sight orders by the government and law enforcement authorities, police said on Sunday.

Police and rescue officials confirmed that since last morning 10 people were killed and the victims included a former union vice nazim belonging to the Jamaat-e-Islaami party.

Interior minister, Rehman Malik this week said after holding meetings in Karachi to review the situation in the city that law enforcement agencies had been given orders to shoot on sight extortionists and target killers. The government also claims to have arrested several suspected target killers in clean up operations who have been interrogated by security agencies.

Police said a man was found dead at an isolated place in Saadi town and was later identified as Junaid Zahidi, 46, who was a worker for the JI and also a former Union council naib nazim in Gulshan town. Police said others killed in different parts of the city included workers of the Mutthaida Qaumi Movement, MQM Haqiqi and Awami National Party.

"Eight people were killed during the day on Saturday while since midnight we have found two more bodies," a rescue official said.

Target killings in the city which claimed around 557 victims in 2010 have become a big challenge for the provincial and central government.

Police giving details of the target killings in the last 24 hours said one person was shot dead at Pehlwan Goth in Gulistan-e-Johar, while another one was killed at a hotel in Nazimabad near the Inquiry Office in a roadside shooting. In Sherpao Colony, a political worker Najeeb Asad was killed due to firing, while the body of another political worker Abdullah was found from Khokla Paar Gold Ground.

Moreover, two people were killed in Liaqatabad and Sharafi Goth areas respectively. Two police personnel were also gunned down at Sea View and in Gulshan-e-Memar.