Nov 20, 2010

Karachi Cycle of Violence

The violence in Karachi has once again raised the ugly head with two major incidents resulting in a large number of deaths in Pakistan’s commercial capital. The differences between the MQM and the ANP supporters have come to a head with election to fill the seat of the MQM legislative member Raza Haider, who was shot dead by gunmen in August.  Mohajir Quami Movement won the bloody by-election in a contest between the Mohajirs (migrants from India) and the Pasthuns led by the Awami National Party.

On 5 October gunmen killed one person and injured another in the city's Gulshan-i-Maymar area and on 14^th seven, including four MQM men were killed. On 7 October ten people were killed when two suicide bombers targeted a major shrine “Abdullah Shah Ghazi”. On 14 October, seven persons including four MQM men were killed in Karachi target killings. 17 October saw target killings in Karachi claiming 30 lives. Violence continued on 19 October with 30 people killed, including a dozen in single incident in the Shershah Kabaari Market. 24 armed men entered the Kabaari Market and sprayed the traders and shopkeepers with bullets. On 20 October eleven more people were killed in Karachi, raising the death toll of the recent target killings to 87 after five consecutive days of violence. A search operation was also launched in Lyari Town, Orangi, Dalmia, PIB Colony, Malir, Landhi, Gulberg, Gadap Town, North Karachi, Nazimabad, Liaquatabad, Pak Colony, Golimar, Baldia and surrounding areas. Despite the same on 24 October four were killed inn continued target killings.

Balochistan

Baluchistan saw low level violence as, three people were killed on 4 October in separate incidents in Awaran, Quetta and Gwadar. Three were killed in blasts on 27 October on Quetta’s Sariab Road while on 28, four people all Shias were shot dead in Quetta.

NOV 2010