Target killing intensifies in Pakistan's Karachi raising death toll to 21

Karachi : The two-day death toll rose to 21 on Thursday as continuing target killing intensified in southern port city of Karachi of Pakistan, while local politicians still engage in the blame game and police appear helpless against the unidentified snipers.

Sindh province Governor Ishratul Ebad formed a committee having a member each from all political parties on it to help probe the issue whereas President Asif Ali Zardari would be rushing down to the commercial hub of the country to chair a high level meeting on Friday, focusing on law and order situation, official sources said.

The Edhi Center, which is operating the largest network of volunteer ambulances and rescue services in Pakistan, said that 43 people have so far been killed during this month while 90 people succumbed to target killing in the month of June.Police are still trying to ascertain the real cause of killing which had mainly been concentrated in the eastern parts of the city and the victims had some political association.While politicians are engaged in a blame game over the issue and in a tug-of-war for supremacy over the administrative and commercial resources of Karachi, Citizen Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) Chief Sharafuddin Memon points finger at a "lack of political will" as the main impediment in resolving the nagging issue, according to the private TV channel AAJ.Memon, who heads the civilian watchdog in the metropolis, recommends to beef up the police strength from the existing 3,000 personnel to 50,000 to help bring peace to the lives of over 15 million multi-ethnic inhabitants.