Governor, 3 others killed in Karachi

Pakistanis shift the body of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) provincial lawmaker Manzar Imam from a hospital morgue in Karachi on Jan 17, 2013.

The attackers on motorcycles opened fire on a car belonging to Karachi governor, Manzar Imam in the Orangi town area on Thursday and killed all the four people inside. Imam belonged to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), a political party, which aligns itself with the ruling Pakistan People’s Party.

According to reports, Tehrik-e Taliban (TTP) militants claimed responsibility for the attack.

Pakistani gunmen have killed dozens of people in different incidents of targeted killings in parts of the city of Karachi in the past few months.

The TTP has carried out numerous attacks against provincial lawmakers as well as civilians and managed to spread its influence in various regions of the country, despite frequent offensives by the Pakistani Army.

Thousands of Pakistanis have lost their lives in bombings and other attacks since 2001 when Pakistan joined an alliance with the United States in the so-called war on terror.

Since late 2009, there has been a surge in militant attacks in Pakistan. Thousands have been displaced by the wave of violence and militancy sweeping the country.

MAM/HN