KARACHI: The killing spree continued unabated in Karachi on Friday, claiming lives of at least 16 people, including a Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPA, and injuring at least eight others.

According to police, unidentified gunmen opened fire in North Nazimabad, killing MQM leader Sajid Qureshi and his son Waqas Qureshi.

In latest incident of violence, four people were gunned down in Korangi's Bilal Colony. When police reached there to control the situation, they were targeted with hand grenades. At least four police officials were reportedly injured in the attack.

Eye witnesses told DawnNews that miscreants were riding motorcycles and fled away from the site immediately after attacking the police.

Sources in police suggested that the attack was carried out through a home-made hand grenade, in which ball-bearings and nut-bolts were also used.

The incident spread fear among the local residents. Injured and deceased were shifted to JPMC.

In another incident, a police official at Shah Faisal Colony Police Station, said that unidentified motorcyclists opened fire near a shopping mall in Shah Faisal Colony No-1, killing a seminary teacher. The deceased was identified as 35-year-old Yasir Hassan Qureshi, son of Zaheer Qureshi. He was shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for an autopsy.

Meanwhile, rescue sources said that two bodies of unidentified men were recovered from Ibrahim Hyderi. The bodies bore marks of severe torture. The victims could not be identified till filing of this news. They were also shifted to JPMC for a post-mortem.

Another mutilated body of a 25-year-old man was recovered from Akber Market in Shershah. It was shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi for autopsy.

Separately, body of a 30-year-old man, identified as Wasif, was recovered beneath the Lasbella Bridge.

Unidentified gunmen opened fire in Ghas Mandi area of Lyari, killing Nadeem, 40, and injuring Al Ameer. The body and injured were shifted to Civil Hospital.

Another unidentified man was gunned down in Mirza Adam Khan Road in Agra Taj Colony.

Unidentified men opened fire in Ghas Bandar area, within the limits of Kemari Town, killing Altaf, 30.

A Mubina Town Police official said that unidentified motorcyclists opened fire on a 30-year-old Imran, son of Ali Marjan, near Scouts Colony on Abul Hassan Ispahani Road, killing him on the spot. Imran was a local resident and was an active member of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ). The victim was shifted to JPMC for an autopsy. Another unidentified man was gunned down in Bhens Colony.

Moreover, four people received bullet wounds in separate incidents of firing in Saddar Town near Café Student, Gulbai Chowk, Mauripur Road and Ranchor Line areas of the metropolis.

Rangers operation in Lyari

Rangers have apprehended 20 criminals, including a key accused in Arshad Pappu murder case, during an operation in Sango Lane area in the city’s troubled Lyari neighbourhood.

According to Rangers spokesman, the paramilitary force raided several houses in Sango Lane and arrested 20 criminals, including Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Police, Ali Baqir. Baqir was the prime suspect in the murder case of Arshad Pappu.

The spokesman said that three abductees identified as Hasan, Shehryar and Muhammad Umar were also recovered from the custody of the accused.

He said that Muhammad Umar, son of a retired Lieutenant of Army and resident of Defence, was kidnapped on June 13. The accused had demanded Rs 20 million ransom for his release.

Meanwhile, Rangers denied reports that the paramilitary force had conducted a raid at the residence of Uzair Jan Baloch, chief of the banned People’s Amn Committee (PAC).