KARACHI: Four people, including two activists of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, were killed while eight, including three women, received serious injuries in violence that erupted in several areas of the metropolis on Monday.

According to police, mobs of youths burnt tyres on roads and pelted vehicles and shops with stones in Malir, Al-Falah, Ibrahim Hyderi and Lyari areas, while traffic remained blocked repeatedly at Super Highway and the National Highway. More than 100 people were arrested for rioting from various parts of the city, the police said.

Driver of a vehicle (JE-6729) of an educational institute, Muhammad Asif (20) of Old Golimar, was gunned down by unidentified men in the jurisdictions of Pak Colony Police Station near Shahnawaz Chowk at Manghopir Road, police said, adding that he died instantly and his body was shifted to Civil Hospital. It was later handed over to his family.

Two others, Abdul Majeed and Liaquat Baloch were injured in the incident. Muhammad Nasir (18), a Muttahida activist of Lyari sector, and Noor Muhammad (35), a sympathiser of the Muttahida, were gunned down and another man received injuries when a volley of bullets hit them in the vicinity of Shoe Market in the Garden police area late on Sunday night, sources in the police said.

Unidentified assailants in a car opened indiscriminate fire at passers-by on Badshahi Road near Dhobi Ghat in Kalakot police area. Muhammad Nasir and Noor Muhammad were fatally injured while another man, Haji Shaukat, received wounds. The deceased and the injured were rushed to Civil Hospital, where Shaukat was admitted for treatment.

Unidentified gunmen opened fire at a bus (LHD-3596), carrying three women workers of a garment factory, at Muhabbat Nagar Road in Saudabad police jurisdiction. The women and driver of the vehicle were injured and were rushed to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. They were identified as Rukhsana, Rehana, Shakila and driver Muhammad Rafiq.

Violence erupted in Lyari area when several groups appeared in various localities and forced the shopkeepers to close their businesses in connection with the mourning on the killing of MPA Abdullah Murad, sources in the police said. The protesters were chanting slogans and demanding registration of FIR for Abdullah Murad’s murder and arrest of the culprits involved in the crime.

The situation became tense and there were violent scuffles after some shopkeepers argued. Similar situation developed in Chakiwara police area, when vendors denied to close businesses on the insistence of the protestors. One vendor Muhammad Ali (65) was fired at and was rushed to Civil Hospital with critical bullet injury.

A passer-by Imran Hanif received bullet injuries near Eidgah in Risala police limits. Police shifted him to Civil Hospital. Kamran Husain (19) received serious injuries when unidentified people attacked him with sticks and sharp-edged weapon in Kalakot police jurisdiction, police said. He was rushed to Civil Hospital, where he succumbed to the critical injuries.

Earlier, the staffs of the Rangers deputed in the Al-Falah and surrounding localities picked five youths, including Nauman Murad, 18, son of slain legislator Abdullah Murad. He was beaten badly and was released later, sources in the area told The News. Law and order situation developed after this incident, as residents turned violent and burnt tyres on the roads.

Leader of the Opposition in Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmad Khuhro condemned Numan’s arrest. He was released after two hours on the intervention of high administration officials. Four others who were arrested with Nauman were still in custody, sources said.

Numan Murad informed newsmen that he was standing near his house when a Rangers vehicle came and the sleuths picked him along with four others. He alleged that they were beaten as if they were criminals.

Situation remained tense throughout the day in Rehri Goth, Dawood Goth, Ghazi Town, Malir-15 in Malir, Rifah-e-Aam Society in Al-Falah, different villages in Ibrahim Hyderi and the surrounding localities. Hundreds of PPP workers took to streets protesting against the PPP leader’s murder. They burnt tyres on different thoroughfares. The mobs also pelted public transport vehicles with stones at several places and forced shopkeepers to close their shops. The irate people also ransacked shops and the violent demonstrations continued till late in the evening.

Police and law enforcement agency baton-charged the violent crowds in attempts to disperse them and keep control over the situation. The Saudabad police have registered two cases against unidentified workers of Pakistan Peoples Party, but no one was arrested. At least a dozen persons were nabbed from the Lyari, a senior police officer told The News.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Pakistan Peoples Party claimed that 250 workers of the party have been arrested from different areas of the city.