KARACHI: A fierce gunbattle between two political groups broke out in Malir, Khokhrapar and Landhi areas early Friday morning, claiming the lives of 15 people, including activists of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi, and Awami National Party (ANP).
The killings created new tensions in the city and sharply increased the political temperature. Observers described the incident as an ominous development and warned that more such incidents in other areas of the city could lead to loss of lives on a large scale.
In the violent clashes, an office and the house of an activist of a politcal party were torched while 20 people, including three women, were injured in areas of conflict. Large contingents of police and Rangers reached the disputed areas and brought the situation under control after resistance of hours.
Police sources said that the fierce gunbattle between the groups started early Friday morning from Khokhrapar No-4 area when armed men attacked an office of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. In the aftermath of the attack, a fierce gunbattle took place during which violence gripped the adjoining localities of Madina Colony, Saudabad, Jinnah Square, Saudia Colony, Ammaar Yasir Society, Liaquat Market, Sherpao Colony and Landhi-89. In these localities, armed men resorted to firing, forcing traders to close their shops. During the violent clashes, armed men attacked the offices of the MQMÃs Unit Offices number 95, 96, 97, 98 and 164.
Eight people, including Murtaza, Jamshed, Ikraam, Nadeem, Niaz, Akber, Naseer and Lubna, died at hospitals. Most of them were supporters of the MQM. Akber, however, had no political affiliation. The deceased Akber was an officer in the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and the only breadearner of his family. A resident of Landhi, Akber was going home when armed men targeted him.
Later, as tension spread in Malir City, Quaidabad and Landhi areas, armed men targeted more people. In Quaidabad area, armed men killed Iqbal alias Billo in Bengali Para and Mustaqeem Khan in the same police limits. Deceased Iqbal was an activist of the MQM-H, while Mustaqeem was said to be a supporter of ANP ward UC-3.
In Malir, armed men targeted three people — identified as Mustafa, Shakeel and Azeem. Police said that deceased Mustafa and Shakeel were active members of the MQM-H and were targeted in Malir, Saudabad, areas. Moreover, deceased Azeem, an MQM-H supporter, was a resident of Malir and was sitting inside his house when unidentified armed men knocked the door of his house and shot him dead when he came out.
In Malir, armed men torched the house of Maqbool, an organiser of MQM-H, Karachi Division, while a hand grenade was lobbed at an empty plot near the Chawal Godown but no casualty was reported.
In Future Colony, Landhi, armed men targeted 22-year-old Mohammed Akram. The deceased was the son of Wahid Khan, vice president of ANP Ward PS-128, and also an activist of the Awami National Party.
Moreover, the office of MQM-H senior Karachi Division member was torched in Model Colony, Malir. However, no casualty or injury was reported in the incident. During the fierce gunbattle, around 20-25 people were injured. They were later taken to the Sindh Government Hospital, Quaidabad, and Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center. Four women, including Saima, Shabnam, Fahmeeda, were among the injured.
Rescue teams entered the disturbed areas amid heavy contingents of police. Additional Inspector General of Police, Karachi, Saud Ahmed, while talking to our sources, said that the police had led a crackdown against the miscreants who had disturbed the Malir City, Saudabad, Khokhrapar and Quaidabad and rounded up eight criminals with arms. More arrests were expected during late night raids. He added that the police had restored peace in the above-mentioned areas while measures were being taken to restore normalcy in Sherpao Colony of Landhi and Landhi-89.
Life in the above areas was paralysed for the whole day as all the markets were closed and people were directed not to come out of their homes. Bullet holes could be seen on the walls of houses, shops and buildings. Police officials who reached the affected areas said that the miscreants had used lethal weapons, including Kalashnikovs, repeaters, etc. Empty casings of some 9mm pistols were also seized.
Tension mounted in Landhi and Quaidabad when bodies of the victims reached their homes. Till our going to the press, the situation in Landhi, Sherpao Colony and Landhi-89 was tense, while heavy contingents of police and Rangers Sindh were present to control the situation.
Tahir Hasan Khan: President Asif Ali Zardari has taken serious notice over the killings in some parts of Karachi and directed the Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wassan to take measures for the security of the life and property of the citizens.
