KARACHI, July 21: An exchange of fire between two groups in the PECHS and adjoining areas claimed life of a woman on Wednesday. Two persons including a twelve-year-old boy were wounded in another firing incident.

Police said that Sajida, wife of Tanveer, was in her house, located in Block-2 of the PECHS, when a stray bullet hit her. The woman died before she could be shifted to hospital.

In a similar firing incident, Mohammad Ahmed and Zahid, 20, suffered bullet wounds in Lines Area. They were taken to the JPMC for treatment. The intermittent incidents of firing by armed groups in different parts of the PECHS forced shopkeepers and traders to close down their businesses.

Tension griped the area following the attack on the house of Sunni Tehreek's chief Abbas Qadri on Wednesday morning. According to a statement issued by the Sunni Tehreek, the party workers managed to get hold of one of the attackers, Nazeer.

He was handed over to the area police, but, later he was released, added the statement. However, police denied that any such man was handed over to them by the Sunni Tehreek activists.

Confirming the firing incidents, Capital City Police Officer Tariq Jameel told Dawn that activists of both Sunni Tehreek and Muttahida Qaumi Movement were involved in the aerial firing.

He said that the lady was inside her house, situated a few streets away from the house of Abbas Qadri, when she was hit by a stray bullet. "No arrests have been made so far, but Rangers and police might make arrests during the night," Mr Tariq Jameel said.

ACCIDENT: A boy died in a hit-and-run accident at Kalapul on Wednesday morning. Police said that Saghir Shah, 18, was knocked down by a speeding vehicle. He was taken to the JPMC, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.