Toll from Karachi violence at 37; nearly 100 hurt

Updated at: 1121 PST, Tuesday, August 03, 2010
KARACHI: The death toll from recent spate of violence in Karachi has risen to thirty-seven while more than 100 have been wounded, according to agencies, following the killing of Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Raza Haider in the Nazimabad area on Monday evening.

Police put the death toll at 33 as violent incidents jolted the metropolitan city after the killing of the MPA, who was also a senior Muttahida leader. There were fears that the death toll could rise.

According to police surgeon Hamid Priyar, over 30 people were killed in the recent spate of targeted killings. He said that by 10 am Tuesday morning, they had received 13 bodies at Civil Hospital Karachi, 14 at Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre, five at Abbasi Shaheed and two at Qatar Hospital in Orangi town.

More than 100 people were injured in the violence. Twenty-two were shifted to the CHK, 29 to the JPMC, eight to the ASH and 11 to Qatar Hospital. About 30 vehicles, several shops, one petrol pump and many kiosks and pushcarts were also set on fire. There were also reports of violence and damage to property in interior Sindh.

Life in Karachi came to a standstill as soon as the news of the MQM leader’s killing spread. Massive traffic jams were witnessed at all the major thoroughfares of Karachi. In the ensuing violence, several vehicles were torched.

Police sources said that MPA Haider came to the Nazimabad area to console a death. Later, he went to Jamia Masjid Trust situated in Nazimabad No-2. In the meantime, armed men riding two motorcycles and a Corolla car stopped in front of the mosque.

They first killed Constable Khalid, the MPA’s guard, who was standing outside the mosque. Then they barged into the mosque and opened fire at MPA Haider, who was performing ablution. A passer-by, Arsalaan, was also injured in the attack.

Police said that the people present at the scene shifted the injured to hospital where MPA Raza Haider was pronounced dead. Hospital sources said that the deceased MPA Haider received six bullet wounds on his head, right and left arms and chest. They added that PC Khalid received two bullets while Arsalan received three bullets.