KARACHI: Fresh political violence gripped Pakistan's commercial capital, Karachi, on Thursday, leaving 14 people dead in fighting sparked by a senior ruling party leader's criticism of the city's dominant political group.
Angry mobs went on a rampage and burnt vehicles after Zulfiqar Mirza, a minister in the Sindh provincial assembly and senior member of President Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP), urged the people of Karachi and Hyderabad, the second-largest city of Sindh, to "stand up ... and rid yourselves" of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).
"I appeal to the people of Karachi especially, and of Hyderabad, to stand up for yourselves, for Pakistan, for Karachi and for your innocent children, and rid yourselves of these cursed ones," Zulfiqar Mirza said while talking to reporters, referring to senior MQM leaders.
In comments broadcast repeatedly by local television stations, he also criticised Mohajirs — the descendents of Urdu-speakers who migrated from India — for being ungrateful for the home they were given after the creation of Pakistan in 1947.
Provincial home minister Manzoor Wasan said 14 people were killed and 25 wounded in violence since last night. At least one person was killed in Hyderabad, police said.
Several protests were held in Karachi and other cities of the province, where hundreds of angry protesters burnt tyres, chanted slogans against Mirza and burnt his effigies, demanding his removal as a minister
Angry mobs went on a rampage and burnt vehicles after Zulfiqar Mirza, a minister in the Sindh provincial assembly and senior member of President Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP), urged the people of Karachi and Hyderabad, the second-largest city of Sindh, to "stand up ... and rid yourselves" of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).
"I appeal to the people of Karachi especially, and of Hyderabad, to stand up for yourselves, for Pakistan, for Karachi and for your innocent children, and rid yourselves of these cursed ones," Zulfiqar Mirza said while talking to reporters, referring to senior MQM leaders.
In comments broadcast repeatedly by local television stations, he also criticised Mohajirs — the descendents of Urdu-speakers who migrated from India — for being ungrateful for the home they were given after the creation of Pakistan in 1947.
Provincial home minister Manzoor Wasan said 14 people were killed and 25 wounded in violence since last night. At least one person was killed in Hyderabad, police said.
Several protests were held in Karachi and other cities of the province, where hundreds of angry protesters burnt tyres, chanted slogans against Mirza and burnt his effigies, demanding his removal as a minister
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