ISLAMABAD: The death toll in the recent violence in Karachi has gone up to 68 with a four-year old child falling victim to sniper firing and six sustaining injuries in group clashes since Saturday night.

The child, Wasim Akhtar, was killed when unidentified Gunmen opened fire in Farooqabad during the brief curfew relaxation period in the city,

Clashes between rival groups were reported from old Golimar area near Zamindar hotel, Pak colony, Katchi ground, Jehangir Toad and Sabra Goth.

Heavy policy contingents were rushed to the trouble spots to Control the situation, reports here said.

Over 50 people were killed in clashes, sniper firings and incidents of stabbing on Wednesday last week, when marauders went on a rampage in the port city, burning vehicles and shops and resorting to arson and looting.

A Karachi report said the five charred bodies which were recovered from a burnt Suzuki van in Orangi town on Friday were those of PPP workers. Police claimed to have arrested one person in this connection.

Meanwhile, concerned over unabated incidents of violence President Ghulam Islaq Khan has urged the Government to call an all parties conference to discuss the law and order problem in the country, a demand repeatedly being made by the opposition,

Making this suggestion at a high level meeting here at the presidential palace Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President said though the maintenance of law and order was primarily the Government’s responsibility, it was the collective obligation of all political parties to ensure conditions of peace and tranquility in the country.

He told Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto that the Government should rise above party politics and resolve such issues through “Bipartisan” approach in the larger national interest.

Officials said the dead included four policemen and army personnel. Most of the causalities occurred in clashes between the police and supporters of militant Muhajir Qaumi movement (MQM). Eyewitnesses said that people used arms against troops during the riots.

‘They said that there was widespread loot and arson throughout the day, during which scores of vehicles were burnt, hundreds other damaged, banks and other government property attacked and set ablaze. Officials said a television van, a vehicle of radio Pakistan, a transport van of Pakistan International Airlines was gutted and many other official cars attacked

Almost the entire MQM dominated area of central and east district looked like a war zone with smoke rising from almost every second street.

Officials said several flights of the PIA were disrupted as the crew could not reach the airport, and all government and private offices remained practically closed as the staff members did not tum up for work.

However there was a lot of business activity in the city’s southern district, particularly the old Karachi area of Lyari and Kharadar, which is controlled by the PPP.

The city administration clamped indefinite curfew in the entire central district and parts of western district.

Doctors at the hospital feared the toll may go up as fresh victims were still coming in.

Trouble flared up as the MQM supporters tried to enforce the protest strike by compelling shopkeepers to down their shutters and obstruct traffic.

The strike call was given by the MQM chief, Altaf Husain, to protest against, what he described as “atrocities committed by the PPP government against the Mujahir’s”. The MQM leader had asked its supporters to remain peaceful but at the same time ensure that all work remained suspended on that day.

Eyewitnesses said, since early morning masked men came out on the streets and fired indiscriminately in the air, which most people believed was an attempt to warn persons who failed to heed the strike call.

Early in the morning some unidentified persons fired on the car of a lady doctor in Gulshan E. Iqbal area, killing her on the spot. Hospital sources said Dr. Khadija was returning from civil hospital when she was hit by the sniper bullet.

Article extracted from this publication >> February 16, 1990