KARACHI: Interior Minister Rehman Malik arrived in Karachi on Monday to diffuse the escalating tension in the wake of target killings in the city.

At least 33 people have been killed and over 50 were wounded in incidents of violence in the city in the past 48 hours.

The fresh spate of killings coincided with the by-elections for the PS-94, Orangi Town, which fell vacant after the assassination of MQM MPA Raza Haider.

Soon after arriving in Karachi, Malik went into a meeting with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah to mull over approaches to restore order in the city.

Reports said top police and Rangers officials were also attending the meeting.

Malik was also scheduled to visit MQM’s Headquarter Nine Zero to speak to members of party’s Coordination Committee.