Pakistani PM vows to restore peace in violence-hit Karachi
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Xinhua, July 22, 2011
Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani assured the parliament that the government will maintain peace in the port city of Karachi where ethnic violence claimed 10 lives on Friday.
Armed activists of two groups of the powerful Urdu-speaking community fought in two areas in Karachi apparently in a power struggle attempt.
Supporters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM-Haqqiqi) exchanged fire in Malir district which later spread to Landhi area, police said.
An MQM leader Raza Haroon alleged that several ministers are supporting the rival group.
Prime Minister Gilani used his speech in the National Assembly to appeal to all political leadership to come up with a solution in order to improve situation in Karachi.
"Karachi's stability is interlinked with political and economic stability of the country, therefore we can't afford any instability in Karachi," said the Prime Minister.
He condemned the incident of gang-war in Karachi that resulted in the killing of people and sought report from the provincial government over the incident. He said that the findings of the report will be presented before the house.
Police sources said that clashes started after the MQM-Haqqiqi group led by Afaq Ahmed resisted the attempt by the MQM to take control of Kokhrapar area in Malir, which had been a stronghold of the Haqqiqi group. Five activists of the MQM were killed in Malir.
In retaliation, the MQM supporters attacked the Haqqiqi men in Landhi and killed two of its supporters.
A total of 12 people from both sides were injured in the clashes that continued for several hours.
Witnesses said that the Haqqiqi men also occupied five offices of the MQM in Malir area after the clash.
The government deployed paramilitary forces and additional police to control the firing.
Markets were closed and transport off the road as the clashes started early Friday morning.
Karachi, the capital of Sindh province and Pakistan's commercial center, has seen series of ethnic and political violence in recent days.
Over one hundred people were killed and many more were injured in clashes earlier this month between ethnic Muhajir and Pashtoons.
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