Violence kills 165 in August in Pakistan's Karachi

At least 165 people were killed in August during recent wave of target killings in Pakistan's southern coastal city of Karachi, local media reported on Wednesday.

Up till now in the year 2010, August has been the worst month in which around 165 people have been killed. The month kicked off with a fresh wave of target killings in the city as eight people were killed including an activist of Awami National Party (ANP) and a young girl.

The very next day on Aug. 2, an incident of targeted killing claimed the life of a Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader and provincial assembly member Raza Haider which triggered a spate of riots, killing about 105 people.

According to police data, 165 first information reports were lodged in police stations of three different zones and 170 law- breakers were arrested in connection to the targeted killing incidents.

Pakistan's business hub Karachi had been the center of clashes and target killings due to ethnic, religious and political conflicts for years, leading to hundreds of casualties.

Source: Xinhua