* Three ANP activists among 10 killed

* Rival ethnic groups clash in Sarjani Town

* Two shops, marriage hall, six pushcarts set on fire

By Atif Raza

KARACHI: There was no let up in target killings on Sunday and violence continued unabated, as at least 10 more persons, five in Sarjani Town alone, were killed in the provincial capital. The death toll has risen to over 100 during the last nine days.

Sarjani Town remained the most troubled area, where at least five people were killed in acts of target killings, while the police and Rangers remained outside the affected areas due to intense exchange of fire between two ethnic groups, reportedly supported by their patron political parties.

In the first incident, armed men kidnapped and killed a man, Bacha Khan, and his nephew, Sajjad Khan.

Police officials said the victims used to supply oil and were at work when unidentified persons kidnapped them and soon threw their bullet-riddled dead bodies.

Later, armed men shot dead another Pakhtun, Tahir Khan, also in the same area.

ANP spokesman Qadir Khan confirmed affiliations of all three victims and condemned the incident.

Tension gripped parts of Sarjani, including Khuda Ki Basti and Taiser Town, as armed groups resorted to intense firing and suspended routine and commercial activities. Residents were confined to their homes while a heavy contingent of Rangers and police were called at the scene to avoid any untoward incident but were unable to enter restive areas. Both groups used sophisticated weapons and reportedly enjoyed the backing of political parties.

During the clash, two more people, who are yet to be identified, were gunned down.

Armed men also set two shops and nearly half a dozen pushcarts on fire.

Reports say that armed miscreants also set ablaze the office of Punjabi Pukhtun Organising Committee, a marriage hall, and managed to burn them partially, while at least dozen of persons, including Faizan, Allah Noor, Jamil, Abdul Jabbar, Buxullah and Naqeeb were wounded.

Police officials said that law and order situation was much better in the area as police entered the affected areas.

They said that Pukhtun and Saraiki people were fighting with each other as a result of which at least five lives were lost.

Police officials further said that it was their old enmity and this clash was the chain of the previous clashes.

Police officials also claimed to have arrested one suspect Imran. Police sources said DIG West called all contingents of the West Zone.

Orangi Town, Pirabad, Bukhari Colony, Pathan Colony and Banaras remained tense, as ongoing violence claimed the life of Zurmai Jan, 22, while over one-and-a-half dozen others were wounded separately.

Dead bodies of two young men were found separately from Orangi’s Pakistan Bazaar police remits.

Police officials said both victims were killed after being kidnapped and armed men threw their bodies after shooting and torturing them.

Police said Zurmai, the victim, was the resident of Baloch Colony Orangi Town.

Separately, four persons, including Sagheer, Khairullah, Shah Wali, Naseebullah and Owais were injured during intense firing in Bukhari Colony, while over 14 others were injured when armed miscreants beat passengers traveling in a bus with sticks in Pirabad area after getting them off the bus.

The injured included Khalid, Irfan, Adnan, Liaquat, Ashfaq, Ajmal, Saeed and Asadullah. Meanwhile, two corpses of young men were found separately from Urdu Bazaar in Aram Bagh police remits and Sher Shah police remits.

However, Munnawar Baloch, who was injured in an incident of firing on July 24 in Sher Shah area succumbed to his injuries at Civil Hospital, Karachi.