The death toll in the ongoing violence in this southern port city of Pakistan has reached 40 and the number of injured has exceeded 150, said sources on Monday. However, Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza puts the death toll at 20. He told the Sindh assembly on Monday that around 150 miscreants had so far been arrested and illegal arms in their possession had been confiscated. According to sources in the police department, 37 rioters had been sent to jail. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani while taking strict notice of incidents of violence in different areas of Karachi has directed his Interior Adviser Rehman Malik to submit a report to him within 24 hours after completing investigation. On Monday, reports of sporadic violence were received from various parts of the city. In a locality of Orangi town, one of the violence-hit areas, around six houses were set on fire and miscreants abducted six women from the same locality. Almost all the educational institutions were ordered to remain closed on Monday; attendance in offices remained thin as public transport remained off the roads and most of the fuel stations in the city remain closed. According to sources, around 800 paramilitary Rangers have been deployed in sensitive areas to help police control the situation. Taking notice of the situation, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has ordered to make all-out efforts to nab the unscrupulous elements and to protect the life and property of the people, says a statement issued here. He expressed sorrow over the tragic incidents. In a joint press statement, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Awami National Party (ANP) condemning the violence termed these riots a conspiracy to divide the city on ethnic lines. The leaderships of both parties urged their party workers to keep an eye on such miscreants in their respective areas.
