KARACHI - Karachi remains at the mercy of terrorists as the recovery of dead bodies continues to bring misery to residents of the city. According to data collected by Pakistan Today, deaths due to the ongoing infighting among ethno-political and sectarian factions in Karachi reached a whopping 181 for the month of June, which raised the death toll for the current year to a staggering 873. At least 19 bodies were found in gunny bags, all of whom were tortured to death.
According to the data, 16 of the 181 victims were killed for their association with various political parties, 12 for their ethnic background and 13 on sectarian grounds. Fifty percent of the targeted killings were reported in the west zone of the city.
The data showed that of the people killed on ethno-political and sectarian grounds, eight belonged to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), four to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), five to the Awami National Party (ANP), seven to the Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal-Jamaat (ASWJ), six to the Shia sect and 18 to the Baloch community. Meanwhile, the banned outfit People’s Amn Committee (PAC) claimed that 12 of their activists had also been killed.
Nine police personnel were also targeted during last month while four security guards belonging to the Pakhtun community and three traders were also killed. The statistics show that 124 people killed in the city during the period did not have affiliation with any political party.
Three women were also shot dead while more than 121 persons were injured in different incidents in the city. Five grenade attacks occurred in different parts of the city, three of which occurred in Lyari.
Police and Rangers claimed to have arrested 13 target killers in search operations conducted in west and south zones of the city. Meanwhile, the police crime investigation department arrested four members of banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the Anti-Extortion Cell of Karachi arrested one kidnapper.