KARACHI - The ongoing wave of target-killings in Karachi turned into ethnic violence on Wednesday as another 21 people were killed in various areas of the City. As reports of killings spread like a wildfire, riots broke out in different parts of the metropolis where tension forced the people to stay indoors. The trouble started when unidentified armed men opened fire on a double cabin vehicle near Lucky Star at Saddar, within the precincts of Preedy Police Station, as the activists of Awami National Party (ANP) were returning back after recording their protest in front of Governors House against the target-killing incidents. Resultantly, three persons in the vehicle including Abdul Rehman, Kashif Khan and Asif Khan, and a pedestrian sustained multiple injuries and were immediately shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre where Abdul Rehman succumbed to his wounds. The victim, a resident of Mehmoodabad, was the gunman of ANP UC-2 President Kakar while Kashif and Asif are also the ANP activists. In another incident, an ANP sympathiser was host shot dead at Data Nagar near Qasba Morr. The victim, identified as Badshah Zada. Another sympathiser of ANP, Mautal Khan son of Iqbal Awan, was killed within the Quaidabad Police Stations precincts. However, police are denying the reports that both the victims were affiliated with any political party. In fourth incident, Hafiz Ahmed, apparently an Urdu speaker, was shot dead at Dastgir Block 15 in the limits of Jauharabad Police Station. The victim was on his way home on a motorcycle when two armed men sprayed a volley of bullets on him and fled away. The body was rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital while the police are claiming that Hafiz was not a political activist. Another Pakhtun, Niaz Mohammad (30) was gunned down when he was passing through near Old Eidgah Police Station on his motorcycle. In Awami Colony, Afzal, also a Pashto speaker, who was associated with the rent-a-car business, was gunned down in Korangi No 6 while killing of an unidentified young Pakhtun has also been reported in SITE A Section Police Stations precincts. Separately, a body of another Urdu speaker, Farooq (25) was found near the Kati-Pahari in Orangi Town. The deceased was stated to be a resident of the same area and was tortured to death after being kidnapped. Meanwhile, two workers of MQM-H were gunned down in separate incidents within the precincts of Al Falah Police Station. Haider Ali, 30, a resident of Golden Gate, was killed while his 10-year-old son, Omer Sufiyan, wounded when they were passing through the Wireless Gate on their motorcycle. Another MQM-H worker, Nadeem alias Mechanic, was gunned down when he was sitting at shop in Shamsi Society. In the same locality, Iqbal Butt, stated to be associated with Punjabi Student Organisation was also killed by unknown attackers. And in Paposh Nagar, Najam Hussain was killed when assailants targeted his rickshaw. Following the killings, riots broke out in different parts of the City including Orangi Town, Banaras, Shah Faisal Colony, Quaidabad and Empress Market where intermittent firing is continuing as the rival ethnic groups are targeting each other. Commercial and private life remained suspended, as heavy contingents of law-enforcers were trying to control the situation. Nine more deaths reported from different parts of the City late on Wednesday night. Monitoring Desk adds: A special meeting held in Karachi under the chairmanship of Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza decided to give more powers to the Rangers to control violent incidents in the City, reported a private TV channel. The minister also called a joint meeting of Rangers and police today (Thursday) for more deliberations.