Karachi reels under fresh violence; toll mounts to 55

The attack in the city's biggest junk market for car spare parts took place late last night as the gunmen opened indiscriminate fire on passers by without stopping their bikes killing 12 people and wounding many others.

Around 31 people were killed in different firing incidents including the attack in the Kabari market in Shershah area since yesterday, police and rescue officials said taking the overall toll to 55.

As the clashes between ethnic Pashtuns and Mohajirs, settlers from India continued in the aftermath of MQM's cakewalk win in the Orangi parliamentary by-election, a senior ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Nabil Gabol demanded that the army be called in to control law and order situation.

Most of the killings in the city with a population of more than 16 million has been attributed to armed gangs controlled by political parties.

The port city is also the disembarkation point for US and NATO war supplies for troops in Afghanistan. The supplies are unloaded in the docks here and then taken over land to neighbouring country.

As the news of the motorcycle borne killings spread, tension and fear gripped the city with some areas witnessing protests by the people.

The wave of violence erupted in the city after the killing of MQM Provincial lawmaker Raza Haidar and it became more widespread during the polling held on Sunday to fill the vacancy