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Id violence claims three in Karachi

Gunmen shot dead three people outside a mosque during Id ul-Zuha, the police said today.

Gunmen riding motorcycles opened fire on a group of people in Karachi in the southern Kalakot district. Two of the victims died on the spot while the third died at a hospital. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Security forces patrolled the streets to ensure calm.

Police said this was an act of terrorism tied to the Id day, celebrated after the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, police raided a number of offices of the ethnic Mohajir Quami movement to prevent the party from collecting hides of animals sacrificed on the occasion.

The federal government has banned collection of hides by Karachi's political parties, saying that the funds generated are used to fund terrorism.

Thousands of goats, sheep, cows and other animals are sacrificed every year in Karachi during the festival. An animal skin is worth 400 rupees to 1,000 rupees.

The police said at least six MQM workers have been arrested for violating the ban. The MQM said the government has wrongly arrested its workers.

"We use this money for social service activities and not for terrorism," said Farooq Sattar, an MQM leader.

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