65 killed in Karachi violence in the past three days

[News_Editor]

65 killed in Karachi violence in the past three days

2011-07-08 02:41:57 GMT+7 (ICT)

KARACHI (BNO NEWS) -- At least 29 people were killed on Thursday in clashes between rival ethnic and political groups in the Pakistani city of Karachi, bringing the death toll to 65 in the last three days, The Nation newspaper reported.

According to local media reports, at least 13 people were killed and 30 others were injured when unknown gunmen fired at two buses in the city. There were also reports of grenade attacks on houses and shops.

The wave of violence continued for the third consecutive day, forcing authorities to close most of gas stations over security concerns. Long queues of cars and motorcycles were seen in front of open petrol stations in the city.

On June 27, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) parted ways with the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) after more than three years, triggering fears of violence. Two rival parties, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and MQM, on Wednesday formed an opposition coalition against the ruling PPP.

The two former rival parties, PML-N and the MQM, set aside their differences and decided to work together "in the best interest of the country," as said by MQM's Haider Abbas Rizvi.

In 2008, the MQM and the PPP, led by President Asif Ali Zardari, formed a coalition government. Earlier this year, MQM left the coalition but rejoined weeks later. MQM has 25 seats in 342-member Parliament.

In June, MQM left the coalition due to a dispute over the past Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections in Karachi. The party said that the PPP government's "dictatorial and undemocratic" approach prompted its separation from the coalition.

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