The fresh bout of violence erupted in Pakistan`s financial hub after an attack on a leading leader of the Awami National Party last night in which he was wounded and his bodyguard killed in Gharibabad area.
Shortly after the attack on Bashir Jan, a young reporter of Geo News television, Wali Babar was killed in Liaquatabad area and since then the violence escalated with the police and para-military rangers failing to control the situation in many parts of the city.
The target killings left the city tense, with people preferring to stay indoors out of fear for more violence.
"The killings have taken place in different parts of the city including Korangi, Malir, Khwaja Ajmer Nagri and Banaras," a senior police official said.
A bus in Banaras was fired at, killing six commuters on the spot and two men were killed in separate incidents of firing in Liaquatabad and Banaras metroville.
Another man was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Korangi Chakro.
Late at night in Orangi Town, a man was killed by firing, while the body of an unidentified man was found near Jam Sadiq bridge this morning.
Maj (Retd) Iqbal Kashmiri, who was the pilot of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah`s helicopter, was shot at and killed by unknown attackers in front of Rabia City, Gulistan-e-Jauhar.
The ANP and the Mutthaida Qaumi Movement blamed each other for the violence and target killings.
Faisal Sanzwari a MQM leader said that armed terrorists are on the loose in Karachi, who have the full support of the ANP, and appealed to the government to resolve the situation.
He further said that the ANP leadership is giving reckless statements to worsen the situation in the city.
ANP President Karachi Shahi Syed said that eight of his party workers have been killed in the recent spate of violence.
He said that steps have to be taken without any political bias involved to attain peace in Karachi.
Syed said that Karachi needs to be cleansed of all weapons and the army needs to conduct an operation for that.