11 more dead in Karachi violence

KARACHI - Violence and target killing claimed 11 more lives in different areas of the provincial metropolis on Tuesday. Activists of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Sunni Tehreek (ST) were among the victims while several others were wounded during exchange of fire which continued in the several areas of the city. The troubled Orangi Town and adjacent localities once again were hit by violence after a brief lull of few weeks in which more than 100 people were killed. Tension gripped the Orangi Town, where a truck and a shop were set on fire after a worker of MQM was targeted in a shot-out. Law enforcement agencies have failed to main law and order in the area. The gunbattle started at Kali Pahari area of Orangi Town where unidentified men opened fire on an MQM activist Noman. He received one bullet on his head and was shifted to Qatar Hospital for treatment where he succumbed to his injury during treatment. In retaliation to this violent incident, unidentified armed men resorted to heavy aerial firing which later changed into the exchange of fire from both sides. Soon the violence also gripped the areas including Kali Pahari, Gulfamabad, Aligarh Colony, Bukhari Colony, Muslimabad and other surrounding areas.During exchange of fire an 18-year-old fruit vendor, Darwaish, was killed and Arshad Hussain, Shazia, 10, and Sher Khan received bullet injuries. Police shifted them to ASH, Qatar and Civil Hospital for treatment. Unidentified men also opened fire on an APC in Orangi Town causing massive traffic jumble in Metrovil, Banaras pull and Kati Pahari Road areas. Miscreants set ablaze a loaded truck and also torched a lace shop in Gulfamabad. Despite deployment of heavy contingents of police and Rangers in sensitive areas of Orangi Town, aerial firing continued in several areas. According per details, victim Noman was a resident of Sector 1-D Orangi Town and an active worker of MQMs Unit-131. When his body reached his home, intense aerial firing started again in the surrounding areas and all major shops and market were closed. Separately, an activist of Sunni Tehreek (ST) was shot dead in New Karachis Sector 11-D, where 30-year-old Ahmed Raza alias Tunta a resident of Ajmair Nagri was gunned down when he was on his way to home from his workplace. He received six bullets and died on the spot. The body was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) for legal formalities. Police officials said victim was an activist of ST and initially reports revealed it was a target killing. No case was registered till filing of the report. In another incident two men were shot dead in Gulistan-e-Juhar near Rabia City in the precincts of Shahrah-e-Faisal Police Station. The incident took place near Rabia City apartment. Bilal Hussain and Ghulam Mujtaba were on their way on a motorcycle when unidentified men equipped with weapons opened fire on them. They received bullet injuries. Police shifted them to JPMC where both succumbed to their injuries. SHO Abrar Butt said both men belonged to Shia sect and resident of Pehlwan Goth. Police also found a body of a youth packed in a gunny bag from Faqeer Colony, Orangi Town near Rehmania Mosque in the jurisdiction of Mominabad Police Station. The victim, Malik Yaqoob alias Babar, 24, was a resident of Ittehad Town. Police said he had come to Orangi Town to see his mother when unidentified men kidnapped him and threw his body near his mothers home after murder. The body was shifted to ASH for legal formalities and later handed over to his family. Police have registered an FIR on the complaint of victims brother namely Shoaib. However, his affiliation to any political or religious party could not be ascertained. Several areas of Malir including Aasu Goth, Mahabat Nagar, Jafar Tayyar Society were still tense where two people Essa and Bux received bullet injuries due to intermittent firing going on in these areas. A security guard of a steel factory, Azizur Rehman, a resident of Ittehad Town, was gunned down by unidentified armed man when he was on his way back to home after finishing his job. He received bullet injuries and died on the way to hospital. Police shifted him to CHK for autopsy and handed over the body to the family after completing the formalities.

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