KARACHI: Amid the ongoing ‘Karachi operation’ led by Rangers, six people were killed in the city on Saturday.

Violence claimed two lives in Orangi Town while four people, including a policeman, werea killed and at least six others injured in a day-long gunbattle between armed gangs in Lyari.

An official at Iqbal Market police station said armed men on two motorcycles targeted two men in Raees Amrohvi Colony of Orangi Town’s Sector 11½ when they were sitting outside one of the victims’ house.

“There were four men on two motorbikes,” said Sub-Inspector Shahid Kaleem, quoting witnesses.

“Shots were fired at Abdul Sami and Noor Alam while they were sitting outside Sami’s home. Both sustained bullet wounds and died on the spot. The victims, who were in late 50s, were close friends and Sami was associated with the MQM’s Buzurg (Veterans) Committee.”

Police remained clueless about the motive behind the killings, but they did not rule out a targeted attack on political grounds.

Fear gripped the densely-populated area after the incident as shopkeepers pulled down shutters and vehicles gradually disappeared from streets.

Police said they had found several empty casings of 9mm bullets from the crime scene.

Earlier in the day, at least four people, a policeman among them, were killed after violence returned to Lyari when armed gangs exchanged fire. The gangs also used rockets and hand-grenades as a ‘ceasefire’, which was said to be a result of ‘talks between rival groups’, turned out to be short-lived, officials and sources said.

Although authorities claimed to have controlled the situation after multiple raids and arrests, life remained suspended till late in the night as people preferred to stay indoors amid persistent gunfire in areas around Kalri Road, Slaughter House Road, Singo Lane, Farid Shah Colony, Gulistan Colony, Ahmed Shah Bukhari Road, Bihar Colony, Al Falah Road, Phool Patti Lane, Mirza Adam Khan Road and Edu Lane.

“The fresh incident is part of an ongoing rivalry between Baba Ladla and Uzair Baloch gangs,” said DIG South Abdul Khaliq Sheikh. “I will not say that the situation is completely under control, but it is much better than last (Friday) night. The gangsters are still there and fighting, but this time we are hitting back.”