9 killed in violence in Karachi, Quetta

The law and order situation in the capital cities of Pakistan's Sindh and Balochistan provinces continued to deteriorate today with nine people killed and several injured in both cities.

Traders closed down shops, malls and markets in and around the commercial areas in Karachi shortly after Mutthaida Qaumi Movement's ex-counselor Anwar Alam was shot dead by unknown men outside his home in the city.

Police said they were investigating the reason for the killing which created tension and panic in the surrounding areas and led to the shutdown and closure of markets.

In other incidents in Karachi, a man named Mehdi Raza was shot dead, while a body was found from Memon graveyard in Malir cantt. The deceased was identified as Azhar.

Police said another body was found from super highway near Sohrab Goth. Another one in a gunny bag was discovered in found Malir.

"All the bodies appeared to be cases of kidnapping and torture and they were later shot dead by their assailants," the official said. Similarly bodies were also found from Korangi sector 51-C near Ibrahim Hyderi.

In a firing incident, five persons including the registrar of Dawood Engineering College and his son were wounded in the city. In Quetta, two Hazara Shia Muslims were killed and another was injured when unidentified men opened fire on them.

According to a senior police officer, Mohammad Tahir and Mohmmad Qadir had come to the office for passport-related work and were attacked outside the main gate of the office.  The assailants immediately fled the scene.

"Both the brothers were killed on the spot and another man of the Hazara community received bullet wounds," the police confirmed.

"It was a sectarian killing," another officer added. This year alone around 28 people belonging to the Hazara community have been killed in apparent sectarian killings in the city.