Hollow promises, and commitments of the ruling party and law-enforcement authorities were clearly exposed as at least 12 precious lives were lost and more than 15 wounded in targeted killing and other incidents of violence in past 36 hours in Karachi.

These targeted killings were triggered on Friday night in Qasba Colony and Orangi Town, when two political activists were shot down by unidentified armed men.

According to reports, this violent series of killings escalated on Friday night at Qasba Colony, when activists of Awami National Party(ANP) were engaged in an opening ceremony of new party office. The situation turned violent when two rival groups exchanged intense firing claiming two lives. The deceased were Mohammed Javed of the MQM and Sharif Khan of the ANP.

Media sources confirmed that 15 bodies were bought to the hospitals, 4 out of which remained unknown and have been shifted to the morgue for identification and autopsy.

On Saturday morning armed men forced closure of shops in Orangi Town, Peerabad, Qasba Colony, Paposh Nagar, Kali Pehari and Banaras areas. According to the fire office, a mini-bus of route G-7, bearing registration number JE-3407, was torched in Sector-11L, Orangi Town.

SHO Mominabad Shabbair Ahmed identified the deceased as Tooti Khan while injured person was Raaz Mohammad, who were attacked by armed men when they came to Mominabad No-5 to purchase steel.

Meanwhile, another non-political person, Naek Zada was gunned down at Orangi Town in C-1 area.

A private TV channel employee , Sajid Ali, was also shot dead by gunmen, in Sharifabad police limits, when he was standing outside his uncle’s house in Liquatabad Furniture Market.

The killings have been condemned and blamed on an unknown political party by both Awami National Party (ANP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

Capital City Police Officer(CCPO) Waseem Ahmed said,“we have been pursuing the proposal to review the law about the possession of illegal weapons and to devise a mechanism to seize such arms.” He has confirmed seven killings in these incidents of violence.

MQM spokesperson alleged that “an ethnic party is harassing Urdu-speaking people, mainly in the Qasba Colony and Orangi Town areas. They killed MQM activist Friday night, and we demand that the prime minister, federal interior minister and chief minister order action against the killers.”

ANP party’s spokesman claimed that, “in Qasba Colony, Aligarh and other parts of the city the same people were targeting and killing Pakhtuns. The victims were poor people such as labourers and were on their way to work when activists of a political party gunned them down for no reason.”

Lawlessness and inability of the security institutions, yet again proved that the people of Karachi are not safe anywhere. Target killings claimed 40 lives earlier this month

All CNG stations in big and small cities across country including Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Islamabad and etc. are closed on Thursday following a strike call on Wednesday by the All Pakistan CNG Association to suspend operations for an indefinite period, Geo news reported.

All CNG stations have remained closed since yesterday while a few company-operated pumps continued supplying gas, with some supplying at higher rates. The APCNGA called for commencement of a countrywide strike to protest an increase in CNG prices and gas load shedding from Wednesday, December 30.

CNG stations in Township, Garden Town, Johar Town, Faisal Town, Model Town, Iqbal Town, Gulberg and other areas in Lahore are still closed. Motorists and transporters were forced to opt for petrol, resulting in higher transportation charges for the public.

Although a few company-operated stations were supplying CNG, but motorists had to wait for hours in long queues to get their tanks filled. Some CNG stations even started supplying gas before sunrise, but at higher rates. CNG is normally available at Rs 42-45 per kilogramme but was sold for Rs 50 per kg after the strike.

“I was going for a morning walk when I saw a CNG station open. I returned home immediately and took my vehicle to the station and got the tank filled,” said Sadeed Ather, a banker, adding he was running his vehicle on petrol due to non-availability of CNG.

Rickshaw drivers also increased their fares, as they were forced to run their vehicles on petrol. “We have not increased the fares but were forced to run our rickshaws on petrol,” said Saleem Salamat, a rickshaw driver, adding passengers also argued with him for charging high rates. “Petrol is at least 30 percent more expensive than CNG, so the fares automatically go up,” he added.

APCNGA Punjab President Shuja Anwer said the strike call had been given for the benefit of the people, who suffer the most when CNG prices are increased. He said the strike was successfully observed in Punjab.

APCNGA will launch protest march from Lahore Chambers to Governor house today meanwhile, All Pakistan Petroleum and CNG Association (APPCNGA) continued sale of CNG in some parts of Lahore, insisting that they are remedy to public sufferings at this juncture.

More than 250 CNG stations in Peshawar and over 450 CNG stations in Karachi are closed as part of nationwide strike but nonetheless, some CNG stations owned by petroleum companies are still selling gas on their stations in Peshawar, sources revealed.