KARACHI: At least seven shops were gutted as fire broke out in a timber market in Landhi area of Karachi on Wednesday evening, according to officials.

The fire, which caused a loss of millions of rupees to the traders, broke out in the evening and engulfed the market within no time. The market mostly contained shops selling wooden stuff and mats, causing the fire to spread rapidly.

Senior Superintendent Malir Rao Anwar said that seven shops were destroyed bringing financial loss of at least Rs10 million to the affected shopkeepers.

The chief of Fire Brigade, Tahseen Siddiqi said that twelve fire-fighting vehicles participated in the operation and controlled the blaze after a two-hour long effort.

12 suspected militants arrested

Police in Karachi conducted targeted raids in militancy-infested localities of Karachi and detained at least 12 suspected militants, said Malir SSP Rao Anwar.

He added that the raids were conducted in Jinjal Goth from where seven militants were apprehended while five others were held from Sohrab Goth area of the city.

The arrested men belong to Waziristan and Tank areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkwa (KP) province.

Police claimed to have received intelligence that these 'militants' were trying to regroup and carry out terrorist activities in Karachi.