10 Killed, 50 Vehicles Torched in Karachi, Pakistan
At least ten people were killed and over 50 vehicles were torched as violence escalated in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi following the killing of a local party leader on Tuesday morning, reported local Urdu TV channel Dunya.
The violence broke out hours after a local leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was shot dead by unknown gunmen at his home in the PIB Colony area of Karachi early Tuesday morning.
The gunmen also shot and injured two relatives of the slain party leader, said a central MQM leader Sagheer Ahmad, adding that two MQM supporters were also injured in the attack.
MQM blamed its rival “Peoples Peace Committee” for the killing of its party worker, but the group has denied any involvement in the killing.
Thousands of MQM supporters took to streets in different parts of the city and protested against the killing of its leader by setting vehicles on fire and firing into air.
At least one person was killed in firing and two dozens vehicles including one police van were burned on Tuesday morning, said local police.
The situation deteriorated as more deaths and burned vehicles were reported in the city in the following hours.
The violent protest by MQM supporters virtually brought the city life into a standstill.
The Karachi Transport Union decided to stop transport service as they were concerned about attacks on public transport. Xinhua photographers in Karachi saw many public buses were burned on the roads in different parts of the city. Few vehicles can be seen in disturbed areas, they said, adding that most of petrol stations in the city were also closed in fear of attacks.