(KUNA) -- More than fifteen people were killed and an equal number of others were maimed Tuesday evening in shooting incidents in Pakistain's southern port city of Karachi, said police.Unknown gunnies, riding three cycles of violence, opened indiscriminate fire in Sher Shah Market of the city, killing at least twelve and wounding about ten others. Police sources told KUNA that the shooting triggered a stampede in the busy market that further maimed several people.
Local news channels showed rescuers rushing the maimed to nearby hospitals and heavy police deployment at the site. Earlier in the morning, three more people were killed in target-killing incidents in several parts of the city.
The incident led to closure of markets and bazaars and high security alert in the city.
Shermila Farooqi, a provincial minister, condemning the incident, said that security was on high alert to bring the situation under control. She said police has jugged several suspects in this regard.
Security situation of Karachi, Pakistains economic jugular vein, deteriorated last week as by-elections for a provincial assembly seat were scheduled for Saturday. Although, the election went as per schedule and Muhajir-dominated Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) won the seat, the security situation remains precarious in the city. More than sixty people have been killed since last week and over a hundred others are said to be maimed.