Thaindian News

Islamabad, Aug 22 (IANS) Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Monday said that tough action will be taken against people involved in the violence in Karachi. At least 80 people have died so far in the latest wave of violence in the country’s financial hub over the past one week.

Eight people were killed Monday as the target killings continued in Karachi, the capital of Sindh province. On Sunday 11 people were killed in different parts of the metropolis, Xinhua reported quoting hospital sources.

In July alone, nearly 300 people were killed, according to police data.

Gilani presided over an emergency provincial cabinet meeting to find ways to deal with the situation. Several federal ministers also participated.

Gilani said that tough action will be taken against terrorists and target killers. He said the restoration of peace is the main responsibility of the government.

Political parties, ethnic groups, traders and religious scholars have called for deployment of the army.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement Monday alleged that members of the ethnic Urdu-speaking community are being targeted.

The party said that the paramilitary forces and the police have failed to stop the carnage.

Gilani, however, ruled out deployment of the army and said the police and the paramilitary forces will be able to restore normalcy in the city, home to about 18 million Pakistanis.

The prime minister’s statement came a day after Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said the military is ready to help the civilian authorities to control the violence.

Kayani said Karachi is the jugular vein of the country’s economy and it will be a great injustice if the deteriorating law and order situation is allowed to continue.