Hans Zimmer to reimagine Saudi national anthem and collaborate on future projects    Saudi Arabia's oil exports leap to 8-month peak in November    Maximum fine of SR900 for using mobile phone while driving    Al-Jadaan at WEF: Saudi Arabia achieves $200 in investment returns for every dollar it spends    Saudi House pavilion at WEF showcases Kingdom's key achievements and promising investment opportunities    Convicted US Capitol rioter turns down Trump pardon    "Theeb Rent a Car" receives two awards for Best New Sustainability Practices and Most Distinguished Company in Social Responsibility from The Global Economics    US tech giants announce AI plan worth up to $500bn    Israel's military chief resigns over 7 October 2023 failures    Dangerous drug-resistant bacteria are spreading in Ukraine    France issues health warning as tons 'aphrodisiac honey' seized    Tariffs on imports only way to get fairness, says Trump    24 Democratic states and cities sue over Trump's bid to end birthright citizenship    Al Nassr secures hard-fought 3-1 victory over Al Khaleej in Saudi Pro League    Al Hilal signs young Brazilian talent Kaio César from Vitória Guimarães    Roberto Firmino's volley secures Al Ahli's 2-1 win over Al Ettifaq    Saudi Arabia introduces national policy to eliminate forced labor    Al Hilal solidifies Saudi Pro League lead with a 4-1 victory over Al Wahda    Princess Hessa bint Salman attends launch of fashion design exhibition in Riyadh Princess Noura Al-Faisal: Art of Heritage showcases Saudi identity with a modern vision    Weight-loss drugs may boost health in many ways    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Voting starts in Karachi after ethnic violence
Faisal Aziz
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 18 - 10 - 2010

KARACHI: Counting was under way in a by-election in Pakistan's commercial hub Karachi Sunday, after shooting attacks killed at least 22 people in the city, where ethnic and political violence has raised fears of instability.
Pre-election bloodshed Saturday night killed at least 22 people, police said.
In August, a lawmaker of Karachi's dominant Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was killed by gunmen, sparking violence which killed 100 people in a week. MQM's rival, the ethnic Pashtun-based Awami National Party (ANP), boycotted the by-election after complaining that the MQM would rig the poll.
Aside from trying to contain violence in Karachi, the government faces a Taliban insurgency and the task of rebuilding areas devastated by summer floods which inflicted $9.7 billion in damage and will strain the weak economy for several years.
The MQM accused the ANP of carrying out the killings, an allegation it denied. “Soon after announcing its boycott of the by-election, ANP's terrorists began killing innocent citizens in a bid to sabotage the election process,” the party said in a statement. The party said 25 people, including MQM workers, were killed. Karachi often shuts down for brief periods after political killings, as well major bombings police usually blame on militant groups. Stock market investors keep a wary eye on tension in Karachi, home to Pakistan's main port, stock exchange and central bank and the main gateway for Western military supplies bound for neighboring land-locked Afghanistan.
The city has a long history of ethnic, religious and sectarian violence. But hundreds of targeted killings this year have raised concerns that violence would escalate and create a new crisis for the US-backed federal government.
The city was a main target of Al-Qaeda-linked militants after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, when Pakistan joined the US-led campaign against militancy, and foreigners were attacked in the city several times.
Provincial Health Minister Mohammad Saghir said gunmen attacked people belonging to ethnic and political groups to “ruin the peace of this city”. About 40 people were wounded, he said.
The MQM's leadership was weighing all options in response to the violence, including withdrawing from the provincial coalition government led by the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of President Asif Ali Zardari, a source said.


Clic here to read the story from its source.