61 killed in Karachi violence

ISLAMABAD - The toll in the violence that broke out in the Pakistani port city of Karachi following the murder of a MQM legislator rose to 61 Wednesday with four more people being killed and shootouts continuing through the night.

Sixty-one people have been gunned down and over 150 injured so far as violent incidents have been raging fiercely for the last three days, according to Geo News.

Muttahid Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader and member of the Sindh provincial assembly, Raza Haider, was shot dead Monday in Nazimabad area where he had gone to attend a funeral.

As the news spread, mobs torched vehicles and set several shops and fuel stations on fire. Firing and violence were also reported from Hyderabad, Mirpur Khas and other areas of Sindh.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik Wednesday said banned outfits like the Sipah-i-Sahaba and Tehreek-i-Taliban were involved in Haider’s killing. He termed it a conspiracy to divide the people of Karachi.

The MQM has alleged that the Awami National Party was involved in the killing. The ANP’s Sindh president, Shahi Syed, has vehemently denied the allegation and demanded a thorough investigation.

Early Wednesday, unknown assailants killed four people in Altaf Town of the Korangi area after confirming their identity. The attackers were accompanied by a man for identification purpose, DawnNews reported quoting sources.

Aerial firing was reported from many areas throughout the last night, triggering panic among people. Shootouts between groups of political parties also reported.

More than 80 people were picked up by law enforcement agencies.