Eight die in Karachi targeted killings

Islamabad Incidents of targeted killing claimed eight lives in different parts of Pakistan's biggest city of Karachi at the weekend, according to media reports Sunday.

However, the Lyari area of the port city was limping back to normalcy after police suspended an operation there on Saturday against alleged gangsters after eight days of gun battles that left dozens of people dead.

The reports said an assistant inspector of police and two political workers were among the victims.

Speaking about the situation in Lyari, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malek told reporters in Karachi yesterday that criminals should not misread the suspension of operation as a sign of weakness of the government.

He said there would be no compromise on the writ of law and peace would be established in all parts of the Sindh provincial capital at all costs.

He ruled out any dialogue with leader of Lyari's banned People's Aman (peace) Committee, Ozair Baloch and asked him and other wanted men to surrender.

Stronghold

The outfit had been fostered in the past by the ruling Pakistan People's Party as its wing in Lyari, a traditional stronghold of the party. But a rift emerged and a ban was imposed on it by the provincial government.

Karachi has a history of violence linked to political, ethnic and sectarian factors while mafia groups involved in drug activities and extortion of money from traders and business concerns have also been active in the port city.