By IRNA
Islamabad : At least two people were killed as violence erupted in the Pakistani port city of Karachi after two rival groups of lawyers clashed on Wednesday, the state-run television reported.
Information Minister Sherry Rehman also confirmed the death of one member of the paramedic staff.
PTV reported that major markets and business centers were closed down after the violence.
Incidents of firing were reported in different parts of the city, the commercial center of the country.
Local TV footages showed passenger buses and cars were burning on the roads.
PTV reported that several persons were also injured and the city police chief said that the security forces are determining causes of the violence.
Six persons were injured during the hours of violence, PTV reported.
Traffic was jammed in several parts of the city due to firing and burning of the vehicles.
Unidentified men snatched cameras from the cameramen of PTV and a private TV channel.
Witnesses said that violence erupted soon after unidentified men came in two buses to the building of city court and started burning offices of the lawyers.
They also forced the shopkeepers to close down shops.
Paramilitary force Rangers and police were called to check the violence but were failed to stop the rioters from burning buses and chambers of lawyers.
“The violence is aimed at sabotaging the democratic forces as the governments formation process is still continuing,” the Information Minister said.
Offices of lawyers, buses and a bank were set ablaze on the main and busy M.A. Jinnah road.
The government and political leaders appealed to the people to remain calm and to check activities of the miscreants.