Khi: Pillion-riding banned till Feb 5

KARACHI: Sindh home minister Manzoor Wassan Tuesday imposed a ban on pillion-riding starting from Wednesday (midday ) till Rabi-ul-Awal 12 (Feb 5).

Criminal gangs in the financial capital of Karachi have killed at least 10 people in a renewed wave of sectarian and ethnic killings.

Talking to media, he said that the government would bring the peace-disturbers to task before long.

"At least 10 people have been killed in targeted shootings in the last 24 hours," a provincial home ministry official said.

"Some of those were killed because of sectarian reasons."

A security official said at least 25 people had been killed over the last week, mostly as part of sectarian conflict between Pakistan's majority Sunni and minority Shiite Muslim communities.

"Terrorists killed people including three lawyers and two doctors because of their sects," the official said.

The city last year endured its worst ethnic and political unrest in 16 years. The southern port city is used by the United States to ship supplies to NATO troops fighting against the Taliban in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Pakistan's rights bodies said more than 1,000 people were killed in violence in Karachi last year, including more than 100 in one week alone in October. (AFP)