Violence continued to haunt Pakistan’s biggest city and financial hub as the killing of a political worker and an attack on a senior police officer led to increased tension on Friday.
Hidayatullah Mehsud, a worker of the Awami National Party was killed in Mangopir area today while in another incident, armed assailants attacked a senior police official Farooq Awan near Lasbella Chowk killing a police guard.
In altogether, this week has witnessed the killing of 18 people and dozens being wounded and scores of vehicles being torched.
Today’s killings led to rumour mongering and the spread of panic and fear among the Karachites with heavy traffic jams witnessed in many parts of the city as people tried to rush back home.
As has become the practice in Karachi, as soon as the word of the killings spread many petrol pumps and markets also shut down adding to the fear.
Mehsud was killed by unknown gunmen after Friday prayers. In another incident armed groups exchanged fire in the troubled Qasba Mor area near the Pushtun dominated Kati Pahari area.
Police said one wanted criminal had been killed in the shootout.
PTI