KARACHI, Sept 18: As Karachi braced itself for a strike called by the Jamaat-i-Islami and backed by the Muhajir Qaumi Movement (Haqiqi) for Wednesday, at least six people, including three workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, were gunned down in a matter of a few hours on Tuesday night.

Six people were injured when gunmen on motorbikes lobbed a grenade near an office of the MQM in Baldia Town and started firing indiscriminately. The injured were taken to the Civil Hospital where the condition of two of them was said to be critical.

Armed men on motorbikes killed two young men, later identified as Saleem and Navaid, in Agra Taj Colony. Their bodies were taken to the Civil Hospital for medico-legal formalities.

Police said the dead, who were in their mid-twenties, were associated with the MQM’s Karachi Mazafati Organising Committee.

In Hawkesbay’s Musharraf Colony, assailants on a motorcycle opened fire at 27-year-old Javed alias Cablewala. He was hit by bullets on the face, head and chest and died on the spot.

The Mauripur police said he was a worker of the MQM.

A man was shot dead and four others were wounded in Nanakwara area in what police described as an extortion-related attack on a restaurant. Akram, 55, the owner of the outlet, died on the spot while Amir, Jan Mohammad, Azam and Bahadur suffered injuries.

An elderly man was killed in PIB Colony. Police said Mohammad Hanif was sitting on a pushcart in Meena Bazaar when he was targeted. The motive behind the killing could not be ascertained.

An unidentified man was found shot dead near KMC Workshop in the Risala police station area. His body was shifted to the Civil Hospital.

The Jamaat-i-Islami gave the strike call in protest against target killings and assassination of its leader and former town nazim Dr Pervez Mahmood in North Nazimabad on Monday.

A spokesman for the MQM-H said the party supported the JI’s strike call.

Streets and major thoroughfares of the city wore a deserted look on Tuesday evening and shops and roadside restaurants which normally remain open till late night were closed.