Shoot at sight orders in Karachi as violence toll mounts

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Shoot at sight orders have been issued in the port city of Karachi where spiralling violence over the past three days has left 63 people dead, media reports said on Friday.

The third consecutive day of violence in Karachi on Thursday saw 34 people being killed in armed attacks on buses and houses.

The toll in three days of violence now stands at 63.

Saud Mirza, a senior police official, said that 18 people were killed in armed attacks in Qasba Colony and parts of Orangi Town.

Twelve people were killed and over 30 injured in attacks on two passenger buses, reported Dawn.

The Sindh government has given shoot at sight orders to security personnel to normalise the city's deteriorating situation.

It also decided that those who forcefully close down shops and businesses would be arrested, reported Daily Times.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who has arrived in Karachi, told reporters: "...Definitely there will be targeted actions in the affected areas and I have ordered deployment of 1,000 FC troops to enforce law in the city."

He called upon Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain and the Awami National Party to play their role to restore peace in the city.

"Karachi is in a sensitive situation, but we have all the information, we know where the planning was done to start violence, we know who are the elements behind it and we are determined to take action against them," he was quoted as saying.

Dawn said that the bus attacks on Friday targeting mainly Urdu-speaking passengers appeared to be in retaliation of the killing of five Pakhtuns whose bodies were found in a minibus on Thursday.