KARACHI, May 13: Seven people were killed on Sunday in a second day of violence, raising the spectre of bloody ethnic feuding that plagued the city in the 1980s and 1990s.
Saturday’s violence, whose outbreak followed the arrival of the chief justice in the city, claimed the lives of at least 34 people. The death toll rose to 41 on Sunday.
Armed men barged into houses and threatened the residents late Saturday night in Ali Garh Colony, Orangi Town. However, local youths put up a strong resistance and pushed back the attackers, said a local resident, Muhammad Ehsan.
“Following the last night incidents, some families have moved out from the area. At least two rows of the locality have been vacated by the residents,” Ehsan told Dawn.
He said that people here had gory memories of the late 1980s when their houses had been attacked and set ablaze in a systematic manner.
At the Water Pump traffic intersection, a mob set fire to the shops located in the heart of Federal B Area on Sunday.
At least four shops located adjacent to Water Pump were set on fire by protesters after the passing of the funeral procession of a Muttahida Qaumi Movement activist.
Sporadic gunfire was heard in the area shortly afterwards. However, unlike Saturday, a Rangers’ convoy presently arrived there and forced the miscreants to flee. No one was reported hit in the shootout.
The Fire Brigade reached the spot and tried to put out the blaze, but the shops had been gutted. A neighbouring gas station was also damaged by protesters.
Earlier on Sunday morning, violence broke out in different localities of the city in Quaidabad. People took to the streets and set fire to tyres, disrupting whatever little traffic there was on the road.
In Majeed Colony, Landhi Town, a young man, Saifur Rehman, died from gunshot wounds.
He was reportedly setting up roadblocks in the area when he suffered a gunshot from police fire. His body was found at a ground.
At Banaras Chowk, a group of people detained passersby and reportedly manhandled them because of their appearance or the clothes they wore.
In the Manghopir area, bodies of two young men were found near the Javaden Cement factory. The bodies of the victims, wearing shalwar-kameez, were trussed up. Police said the victims had been tortured and later shot in the head. However, both the men, in their early twenties, could not be identified, police said.
Muhammad Ali died reportedly in crossfire between two groups in Qasba Colony, Orangi Town. Police said that initial information suggested that Ali did not belong to any political party of group but was caught in the crossfire.
In another clash between two groups that occurred in the same locality, Mohammad Noorani lost his life. Six others, including three policemen, were injured as a result of the firing.
Police said the body of a young man was found near Naval Colony in Ibrahim Hydri. The victim, identified as Sarwar, was shot in the head.
Police said Sarwar was the resident of Korangi No. 6. He was earlier kidnapped by unknown persons who later shot him in the head and dumped his body. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement claimed that Sarwar was their activist.
They said that their another activists, Muhammad Ashraf, was killed at Banaras Chowk on Sunday evening by a group of armed men.
Disturbances were reported from different parts of Site Town, Muzaffarabad Colony and Safoora Chowk.
KARACHI, May 13: Seven people were killed on Sunday in a second day of violence, raising the spectre of bloody ethnic feuding that plagued the city in the 1980s and 1990s.
