Call for mourning: Lyari, other Baloch-dominated areas remain tense

Several parts of Lyari and other Baloch-dominated areas of the city remained tense on Saturday, following a call for mourning by the banned People's Amn Committee (PAC) against Lyari's killings. As the sun rose, people in Lyari and other adjacent areas took to streets to express resentment against the deteriorating situation in Lyari.
They burnt tyres and resorted to heavy gunfire, resulting in complete suspension of all commercial and social activities in the several parts of Lyari and other Baloch-dominated areas, including Malir, Baloch Para and Solider Bazar.
Also on early Saturday, a youth died after criticially being injured in firing in Kalakot police remits. The victim was identified as Rustam Ali, son of Abdul Ghani Baloch. Police suspected that he might have been fallen prey to ongoing spree of vandalism in Lyari. Protesters, who took onto streets, resorted to heavy firing and forced shopkeepers to pull down their shutters to observe the mourning day.
Following the mourning call by the banned PAC, incidents of violence and arson were reported from various parts of Lyari, including Bihar Colony, Lea Market, Dubai Chowk, Kamela Stop, Chakiwara, Baghdadi and Aath Chowk. Public transport also remained suspended in these localities. Schools and colleges in Lyari were closed. The Matric-board postponed its exams in six centres of Lyari on Saturday.
A 12-year-old boy, Hasan Ahmed, was injured in Kalakot police remits and was released by the Civil Hospital Karachi after first-aid treatment. In the Old Golimar area, a hand-cracker attack left two men in a wagon injured, while a suspected criminal was killed in firing in the Soldier Bazar area.
"As we gathered facts from local people, some armed men on motorbikes attempted to intercept a bus in the first half the day in the Old Golimar area," said DSP Rustam Khattak, the area's sub-divisional police officer (SDPO). "When the bus driver tried to speed away, they fired a cracker which caused minor injuries to two people. We believe that the incident was part of yesterday's Lyari violence."
Also in the Soldier Bazar, the police said, the armed men on motorbikes fired random shots near the usually busy Chandni Chowk area in a bid to force traders to pull down their shutters. However, one of the armed men got wounded. He later died in hospital. "The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Moosa, son of Abdul Rasheed," said DSP Qaiser Ali Shah, the area's SDPO. "He was part of the armed group who fired shots, harassing the traders. He was hit by a bullet of his colleagues."
The area police said they had not yet registered any FIR for Friday's violence. "The victims' families have not yet contacted the police. Similarly, the police are busy collecting details to ascertain the identity of people involved in the Friday's attacks," he said.