The violence erupted in Karachi last night after the apex court ruled the appointment of Justice (retd) Deedar Hussain Shah as chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) by the government six months back as 'null and void'.
At least five people were killed in firing incidents and several vehicles torched in apparent politically-backed violence following Pakistan's Supreme Court decision annulling the appointment of the chief of the country's main anti-graft body.
The violence erupted in Karachi last night after the apex court ruled the appointment of Justice (retd) Deedar Hussain Shah as chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) by the government six months back as "null and void".
Following the apex court order, the PPP government appeared headed for a new confrontation with the judiciary.
Although the central leadership of the PPP declined to give a clear statement on the apex court ruling, the party leaders in Sindh called for a strike in the province today against the verdict.
So far, the violence in Karachi has claimed lives of five people and left many others injured amid incidents of firing overnight, Geo News reported, adding that it was "apparently a political party-backed violence." A dozen vehicles, including buses, had been set ablaze.
Areas, mostly hit by tensed situation included Lyari, Orangi Town, Khara Dar, Gulistan-e-Johar, Shanti Nagar where a number of vehicles had been burnt to ashes and the incidents of aerial firing were being witnessed.
Since late last night incidents of arson, indiscriminate firing by unidentified people that terrorised shopkeepers and owners to close their businesses were reported from different parts of this metropolis city.
The provincial PPP leadership called on the traders to keep their businesses shut and for public transporters to remain off the road while Sindh education minister Mazhar ul Haq late last night announced that due to the tense situation in the city, all government and private educational institutions would remain closed today.
The All Karachi Traders Action Committee and All Karachi Trade Ittehad , however, said they were not in a mood to observe the PPP-called strike and would try to open businesses but so far the situation was tense in many parts of the city with markets and businesses remaining closed and no visible public transportation on the roads.
Taj Haider, the PPP secretary-general in Sindh, said the strike was called to protest against the court decision but in Islamabad the central leaders, including the federal information minister, said the strike call was a provincial matter and given by the PPP Sindh.
Television channels reported that the government had decided to reappoint Deedar Shah as NAB Chairman and a summary to this effect would be moved to the president and prime minister.
Around a dozen people have died in target killings in Karachi this week with the situation again deteriorating in many localities.
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