July 2011 Karachi Target Killings
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During the months of July and August 2011, a number of
targeted killings Targeted killing is a form of assassination carried out by governments outside a judicial procedure or a battlefield. Since the late 20th century, the legal status of targeted killing has become a subject of contention within and between variou ...
in
Karachi Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...
, Pakistan left hundreds of people dead. The attacks are part of an ongoing terrorist campaign of political, ethnic and religious violence that has gripped the city in its worst form in the recent years. The targeted killings of Shias in Pakistan have been described by international human rights groups as a genocide. Since 1963, the government of Pakistan estimates more than 23,000 Shias have been killed in Pakistan, however, that number is widely believed to be a vast undercount. In mid-July, ANP politicians accused the MQM expelling 3–4,000 Pashtuns out of their neighbourhoods. Dawn reported in 29 August that ethnic Pashtuns were leaving Karachi due to the violence.


July

Continuous target killings in the month of July claimed the lives of over 300 people. The high death toll in July made it one of the deadliest months in almost two decades in the
history of Karachi The area of Karachi (, ) in Sindh, Pakistan has a natural harbor and has been used as fishing port by local fisherman belonging to Sindhi people, Sindhi tribes since prehistory. Archaeological excavations have uncovered a period going back to In ...
– in fighting linked to ethnic and religious tensions that plague the city. The shooting incidents, starting from 6 July, were perpetrated by unknown gunmen and fired indiscriminately in various neighbourhoods throughout the city. In the third day alone, at least 27 people were shot dead, in what was described as one of the worst days the city was witness to since the PPP-led coalition government came into power. On July, 11 a night of violence resulting in 12 deaths. The violence was triggered by a government minister, Zulfiqar Mirza, who launched a verbal assault on the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Mirza's aggressive remarks were so extreme that members of his own party had to physically remove him from a press conference. During the course of the attacks, some three buses were fired upon; some shootings were conducted in
Orangi Town Orangi Town () is a residential town of Orangi District located in the northwestern part of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It was named after the sprawling municipality of Orangi. Town system was formed in August 2001 by dissolving Karachi Distri ...
, causing many suburban locals to vacate their homes and flee to safer areas. All of the attackers managed to escape immediately after the crime. According to HRCP, businesses usually run by Pashtuns, or Pukhtuns, such as pushcarts, trucks, roadside restaurants, and rickshaws were often targeted, regardless of whether they were affiliated to a political party. By July 12, up to 100 people were killed. These attacks were indiscriminate and involved automatic machine guns, grenades and rocket launchers. According to a rickshaw driver, Fazal Ayaz, "Sometimes, I tell my passengers I won't go to certain areas where they are shooting people who look Pashtuns. But this is my bread and butter." The
President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...
summoned a meeting of top officials to discuss the ongoing violence and find a solution. The attack was condemned by a number of people in the media. Meanwhile, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, one of the large mainstream political parties which dominate the
politics of Karachi The Politics of Karachi () takes place at the municipal, provincial and federal levels of the government. Karachi is a multiethnic, multilingual, multicultural and multireligious metropolitan city. The demographics of Karachi are important as mo ...
, threatened to call a strike if the government did not do enough to combat the incident. Karachi has seen a number of target killings, most of which are allegedly politically motivated and usually carried out against political workers affiliated with political parties. Random shooting incidents however, like these attacks, are not as frequent and raise concerns over the deteriorated security situation of the city.


August

In the month of August, 44 more people were killed in non-stop shootings. Most of the victims were members of the Muhajir community, the largest ethnic group in Karachi.


See also

* Target killings in Pakistan *'' Targeted Killing in International Law'' *'' Targeted Killings: Law and Morality in an Asymmetrical World'' * 2019 Ghotki riots * 2009 Gojra riots


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Karachi 2011 murders in Pakistan Mass murder in 2011 2011 mass shootings in Asia Spree shootings in Pakistan Terrorist incidents in Pakistan in 2011 Mass murder in Karachi Targeted killings in Pakistan 2010s crimes in Karachi 21st-century mass murder in Pakistan Terrorist incidents in Karachi July 2011 in Pakistan August 2011 in Pakistan Deaths by firearm in Sindh 2011 in Sindh July 2011 crimes in Asia August 2011 crimes in Asia Violence against Shia Muslims in Pakistan Racially motivated violence in Pakistan