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Islamabad, Jan 31 (IANS) A total of 155 people have been killed in separate incidents of violence in Pakistan's port city of Karachi this month, a media report said Thursday. At least three people were killed Thursday by unidentified gunmen who opened fire at a vehicle, Xinhua reported. In January, five bomb blasts took place in the port city, leaving 16 people dead and over 50 others injured. On Jan 1, a gathering of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) political party was attacked with a remote controlled bombing that killed four people and injured over 40 others. The second attack took place Jan 20 when a bomb was detonated outside a commercial plaza, killing two people and injuring many others. The other two blasts occurred Jan 24 in which six people including two policemen were killed. The fifth blast took place Jan 30, when militants attacked a drug den with remote controlled explosives fixed on a motorbike. The blast left four people dead and many injured. During the month, at least 22 people were gunned down in "political confrontations", police told Xinhua. Those killed include 11 activists of the MQM, six of the Awami National Party and five of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party. A provincial minister of MQM was killed along with his three guards when gunmen opened fire at his vehicle. At least 19 people were killed in sectarian attacks in the month. They include 11 Shias and eight Sunnis. Apart from terrorist and sectarian attacks, the "extortion mafia" was also active in threatening traders in the city. Dunya TV channel said at least 12 attacks were launched at various markets over the last one month in which four traders were killed. The report quoted traders as saying that they pay millions of rupees every month to extortionists to save their lives and business.
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