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AFP The violence-hit western neighbourhood of Karachi on Friday

 

Shoot-at-sight order as sectarian strife escalates

The death toll in the political and ethnic violence that has held Pakistan’s commercial capital, Karachi, in its grip for the past four days threatened to cross the 100 mark even as shoot-at-sight orders were given to security forces as the administration struggled to quell the bloodletting.

At least 95 people have been killed in the four days of non-stop violence that has paralysed the city as Pakhtuns and Urdu-speaking people clashed in different parts of Karachi in what is being billed as the worst cycle of ethnic violence in the city in many years. Friday alone consumed 20 lives as per last count despite 1,000 personnel of the Frontier Constabulary being deployed after a late Thursday night stock-taking by the provincial government.

While the two communities and their political representatives — the Awami National Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) — have been clashing at frequent intervals in their struggle to control the commercial capital, this latest round of violence has left the administration looking totally helpless as buses and residential areas came under attack.

With the MQM calling for a day of mourning on Friday to express anger over armed attacks in Orangi Town, Qasba Colony and Gulfamabad, the city wore a deserted look in anticipation of trouble. Schools, offices and shops remained closed and there was hardly any traffic on the roads.

According to federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, he had spoken to the leaderships of the MQM and ANP to rein in their workers. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani urged all political parties to join hands to restore peace in Pakistan’s founding father, Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s city.

Amid speculation of a possible operation being launched in Karachi to cleanse the city of violent elements responsible for setting the metropolis ablaze every once in a while, Mr. Malik sought to assure people that such action was not on the cards but said there would be targeted actions in affected areas.

In a related development, the U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter expressed concern about the escalating violence in Karachi.

Urging all parties to refrain from further violence, he called for working toward a peaceful resolution of differences.