A violent start to Muharram as 5 killed in Karachi riots

At least five people were killed, two of whom were burned alive, and 16 others were injured in riots that erupted in Karachi after an attack on a protest rally at Numaish Chowrangi in Karachi on Sunday.
The protesters were demonstrating against the NATO attack on Pakistani soldiers in Mohmand Agency when unidentified gunmen opened fire at the rally and later fled the scene. Two people were killed on the spot while three others received bullet injuries. Another man succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital. The bodies and injured were rushed to the hospital while riots erupted in the area and the enraged protesters set ablaze 30 motorcycles, four cars, an SUV and a rickshaw as security forces stood by. Later, however, a heavy contingent of Rangers and police reached the spot and tried to cordon off the area but failed. Security forces made several unsuccessful attempts to disperse the protesters, following which they used teargas and aerial firing, which cleared the area briefly.
A little while later, the protesters returned and besieged a mosque and tried to take the people inside hostage, but were headed off by police, who drove several armoured vehicles through the swarm of protesters and rescued those stranded inside the mosque. On their way out, the vehicles were attacked by the mob but police kept it at bay by firing shots into the air repeatedly. Security personnel warned the protesters on loudspeakers to leave the area but they did not take notice and shot back at the police from three sides when police fired in the air in an attempt to disperse them.
Several people received gunshot wounds and were taken to Civil Hospital and Jinnah Hospital. Ahsan Kohati, a reporter of a private TV channel, was shot twice in the chest and was rushed to Agha Khan Hospital in critical condition.The protesters also allegedly caught six men in security forces’ uniform moving towards Imam Baargah Shah-e-Khurasan and roughed them up. They claimed the men belonged to the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan. Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wassan said police and Rangers arrested 14 peopleand also seized weapons. After violence at Numaish Chowrangi, riots erupted across the city. Unknown people set ablaze a motorcycle along with its rider while another motorcyclist was torched in Patail Para.
Another two people were shot dead at Nagan Chowrangi and Manghopeer.