Update: Karachi riots toll mounts to 43 as Pakistan govt told external forces involved in violence

At least 43 people were killed and over 125 wounded as firing and violent incidents continued to affect the country’s financial capital on Monday.

According to reports, unidentified miscreants torched dozens of vehicles, timber market, marriage hall, godown and a garbage house in separate violent incidents in the metropolis.

While law enforcement agencies failed to bring the situation under control as 14 more people were killed in different areas today. Five out of 14 bodies could not reach hospitals.

In another incident, unknown gunmen shot dead five people in Raees Amrohi Colony of Orangi Town, increasing the death toll in three days’ violence to 43.

Sindh Government had imposed a three-day ban on pillion riding in the city on Sunday.

Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah took strict note of the situation and sought a report within 24 hours. They also directed the law enforcement agencies to keep a close eye on the miscreants.

The series of violent acts, started from Banaras Chowk on Saturday evening, continues even after 50 hours and people are living under fear and panic.

So far, 100 miscreants have been held by the police from various areas of the city in connection with ongoing violent incidents.

The violence claimed 28 lives on Saturday and Sunday in Karachi. A bullet-riddled body was found near Bait-ul-Mukarram Mosque in Orangi town while vehicle of Orangi Nazim came under attack and member provincial assembly, Manzar Imam sustained injury in the incident. Two more bodies were recovered from Soldier bazaar area.

At least 39 people were killed and over 100 wounded as firing and violent incidents continued to affect the country’s financial capital on Monday.

According to reports, unidentified miscreants torched dozens of vehicles, timber market, marriage hall, godown and a garbage house in separate violent incidents reported in the metropolis.

While law enforcement agencies failed to bring the situation under control as 11 more people were killed in different firing incidents today. Seven, out of 11 bodies were brought to different hospitals.

In another incident, unknown gunmen shot dead five people in Raees Amrohi Colony of Orangi Town, increasing the death toll in three days’ violence to 39.

Sindh Government had imposed a three-day ban on pillion riding in the city on Sunday.

Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani and Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah took a serious note of the situation and sought a report within 24 hours. They also directed the law enforcement agencies to keep a close eye on the miscreants’ elements.

The series of violence, started from Banaras Chowk on Saturday evening, continues in various parts of the city.

So far, 100 miscreants have been held by the police from various areas of the city in connection with ongoing violent incidents.

It may be mentioned here that 28 people were killed on Saturday and Sunday in Karachi.

External forces have been suspected to be involved in the growing ethnic violence in Karachi, which claimed 25 lives and over 100 people sustained injuries, according to a report of security agency sent to government on the law and order situation in the metropolis.

External hands are deliberately disrupting the law and order situation in Karachi by a pre-planned conspiracy, the report stated.

It added that the violence erupted when the leaders of MQM, ANP and PPP were holding talks to extend cooperation particularly after Indian blame game in wake of Mumbai terror attacks.

Report also stated, Altaf Hussain, Chief MQM advised the workers of the party to remain calm and avoid taking law into their hands while ANP leaders were also worried about the violence in Karachi which outlined the involvement of external forces who wanted to destabilize Pakistan by creating panic in Karachi.

It maintained that by disrupting the peace in Karachi, financial capital of Pakistan, a message of retaliation of Mumbai mayhem was sent to the government of Pakistan.

According to sources, the security forces have been put on high alert in Karachi to keep the situation from going worse.