13 dead in Karachi after calls for a ‘separate province’

• Rangers find involvement of a political party behind targeted killings in metropolitan city

Violence gripped the metropolitan a day after Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain demanded a separate province for the Urdu speaking, as at least 13 people were killed and several others injured in separate incidents on Saturday.

According to reports, unidentified men shot two people dead in Gulshan-e-Iqbal near Moti Mahal and fled the scene.

The police said that unknown armed men opened fire on Rashid Minhas Road early Saturday morning and killed two seminary students stated to be real brothers.

After the killings, tension gripped the adjoining areas while the traffic was also suspended on the main roads leading to Nipa and Gulshan Chowrangi.

After the incident, enraged protesters took to the streets and blocked roads leading towards Moti Mahal and Nipa Chowrangi. The demonstrators threw stones at cars and burnt tyres, demanding immediate arrest of the responsible.

The students of Karachi University faced commotion as Nipa Road was also blocked by the demonstrators who did not allow the students to proceed towards the university where they had to appear for B Com Islamiat exam.

Moreover, late on Friday night, three people were killed and four others were injured when armed assailants had opened fire near a juice store in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. Six armed men riding on three motorcycles had shot at people gathered near a popular juice store near Maskan intersection in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. The deceased were identified as Nadir, Ghulam Ali and Hussain Ali.

Furthermore, a police officer, who was injured in a firing incident in Sachal Goth near Super Highway earlier on Friday, succumbed to his injuries yesterday.

In a separate incident, a man was shot dead by unidentified men in Sohrab Goth near Indus Plaza, while a body bearing torture marks was also found from Bahria Town. One of the deceased was identified as Munir.

Moreover, a dead body was recovered from Baldia Town, one from Golimar area and a man was shot dead in Gulshan-e-Hadeed.

Tension gripped the entire city after fresh incidents of target killing and people in several areas were restricted to homes due to poor law and order situation.

The citizens and businessmen expressed grave concerns over the uncertain law and order situation. They also criticised the provincial government for failure to overcome the situation despite presence of heavy contingent law enforcement agencies (LEAs) personnel across the city.

The respective police have registered FIRs for all the cases but no one has been arrested as yet.

POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT?

Meanwhile, Sindh Rangers claimed that a political party was found involved in fresh target killings in Karachi. Spokesman of the paramilitary Rangers said that the law enforcers have found evidences about a political party’s involvement in Friday night’s killings.

“There is a complete harmony between Sunni and Shia sects, but sectarian killings are a conspiracy to spoil peace in Karachi,” the Rangers spokesperson said, claiming that killers would soon be arrested.