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31 Killed in Pakistan Election Violence

   VOA News 18 October 2010
   Pakistani rescue workers gather around bodies of shooting victims at a
   local hospital in Karachi, 17 Oct. 2010.

Photo: AP

   Pakistani rescue workers gather around bodies of shooting victims at a
   local hospital in Karachi, 17 Oct. 2010.

   Gunmen  killed  at least 31 people in Pakistan's southern port city of
   Karachi  as  a  by-election  was  held  Sunday  to  replace a lawmaker
   murdered earlier this year.
   The  violence  broke  out  Saturday  night  when gunmen opened fire in
   several  parts  of  the  city  ahead of the vote. Police say they have
   arrested at least 20 suspects in connection with the killings.
   The election was being held to replace provincial lawmaker Raza Haider
   from  the  Muttahida  Quami  Movement  (MQM),  who  was gunned down in
   August.   The assassination sparked four days of violence that killed
   at least 85 people.
   MQM,  which  largely  represents  the Urdu-speaking community, and the
   rival  Awami National Party, representing ethnic Pashtuns, blamed each
   other for the violence.
   Karachi  has  been plagued by ethnic and sectarian killings, crime and
   kidnappings.   Â

   Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

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