KARACHI, Jan 8: Police picked up eight men and seized weapons from them after an armed clash between two groups in a turf war left at least one of them wounded in Gulistan-i-Jauhar on Tuesday.

The hours-long shootout followed by a search operation launched by Rangers and police compelled residents of Rabia City and adjoining areas to stay indoors.

According to the police, the situation turned violent when the Liaquat Bangash group tried to take back control of different parts of the huge complex of Rabia City that after the death of the Awami National Party leader was taken over by the Tariq group, also said to be associated with the party.

However, an ANP spokesman said that the two groups were not associated with the party and none of those arrested by the police was party workers.

Shah Faisal SP Zahid Hussain said that following the death of Liaquat Bagash during a search operation last year, his associates were ousted from Rabia City by the group led by Tariq who took over different rackets and enforced his control over the settlement.

On Tuesday, the ousted group led by a man, identified as Babrak, tried to make an ‘entry’ into the locality and faced stiff resistance, the police said.

The two groups exchanged fire, the officials said.

Acting on the information, the police and Rangers reached the scene and cordoned off the area. “We conducted a search operation and arrested seven suspects as well as a wounded man, Babrak, who was shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre,” said the police officer.

He said the police seized several pistols and rifles from the suspects.