ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Gunmen opened fire on a political rally Tuesday in the Pakistani city of Karachi in violence that left nine people dead and sparked rioting, police said.
The violence was a reminder of the port city’s volatility. It is home to several political parties with armed wings that extort residents and feud among themselves,leading to frequent outbreaks of violence.
City Police Chief Akhtar Gorchani said nine people were killed and more than 30 wounded in shootouts. Another police officer, Mohammed Amir, said the attackers fired on a rally held by Awami Tehrik, a small nationalist group, and it was attended by members of several other parties in the city.
Front Section, Pages 10 on 05/23/2012