Gunmen open fire at rally in Pakistan, 5 killed
ASSOCIATED PRESS May 22, 2012 9:20AM
ISLAMABAD — Police say gunmen have opened fire on a political rally in the Pakistani city of Karachi, killing five people and sparking rioting.
The violence Tuesday was a reminder of the port city’s political volatility. Karachi is riven with ethnic, political and sectarian tensions. It is home to several political parties with armed wings that extort its citizens and feud among themselves, leading to frequent outbreaks of violence.
Police officer Mohammed Amir says the attackers fired on a rally held by several parties in the city. Several cars and shops were burned following the incident.
Amir says it was unclear who the attackers were.
Karachi is home to 18 million people and is the commercial hub of Pakistan.
