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Pakistan

At least 22 killed in Karachi election violence

At least 22 people have been killed in violence during a by-election in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi. The ongoing ethnic and political violence threatens further instability in the port, which is the country’s commercial hub.

Reuters
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The deaths took place on Saturday night before polling, according to police who know of 22 dead.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) claims that 25 people, including some of its own members, have died and blames the rival Awami National Party (ANP).

The ANP, which is based on ethnic Pashtuns, had called for a boycott of the vote, claiming that the MQM, whose support comes mainly from Urdu-speakers whose families came from India, would rig it.

“Soon after announcing its boycott of the by-election, ANP's terrorists began killing innocent citizens in a bid to sabotage the election process,” an MQM statement said.

Provincial health minister Mohammad Saghir said gunmen in several parts of Karachi attacked people belonging to rival ethnic and political groups to “ruin the peace of this city”.

About 40 people were wounded, he said.

In August, an MQM politician was killed by gunmen, sparking violence which killed 100 people in a week.

The MQM dominates Karachi and is a member of the coalition that rules surrounding Sindh province. It has declared that it is considering pulling out of the provincial government after the weekend’s violence
 

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