Karachi: The death toll of target killings has reached over 100 during the first 10 days of this month as eight more were gunned down on Sunday by unknown hitmen.
The death toll until Saturday had reached 103, official records showed.
On Saturday, 20 men including six students were killed by unknown attackers travelling in a van and on motorcycles in the Gulshane Iqbal area.
Among the eight people killed on Sunday was the son of a director of the Intelligence Bureau.
Alson included were secret police personnel who were gunned down on Saturday night and succumbed to injuries on Sunday morning.
Unknown gunmen opened fire at a shop in Orangi Town killing three men including a father and his son. Another man was injured in the firing. A body was found under Banaras flyover. In the old city area another bullet-ridden body was found.
Earlier in the morning on Sunday in Liaqatabad town a man was killed and five people were injured when an unknown motorcyclist opened fire.
A man identified as Ajmal Khan was shot at and later died in the Metroville area.
Almost all the killings in the past two days were carried by attackers on motorcycles defying the ban on pillion riding.
Shahid Hayat, the deputy inspector general of police, admitted that at least four attackers were riding on two motorcycles in the Saturday attack on a hotel. At least six students of a seminary were killed in the attacks and three others were injured. He said that it was difficult to get a ban on pillion riding implemented because the number of policemen were far less than the required number in Karachi with a population of 20 million.
President Asif Ali Zardari has directed the provincial authorities to take effective measures to improve the law and order situation, officials said.
Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malek discussed the Karachi situation with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah.
Malek said the federal government was providing every possible assistance to the provincial government for maintenance of law and order.
The Sindh chief minister visited different areas of Karachi on Sunday and ordered the police to ensure adequate police.
Reports said paramilitary Rangers personnel were undertaking targeted action in the city to round up suspects and recover illegal arms, officials said.
