Wednesday, December 3, 2008
KARACHI (AFP) — Pakistani authorities on Tuesday arrested 24 men at an Afghan refugee camp on suspicion of involvement in recent riots that killed 35 people and injured more than 200, officials said.
"We have arrested 24 men who were either directly involved in the violent acts or harboured the criminals," Sohail Zafar Chattha, a senior police official, told AFP.
Police and paramilitary forces also seized weapons and ammunition from the suspects in the operation aimed at securing Pakistan's largest city, which was gripped with violence from Saturday until Monday.
The incidents were mainly blamed on activists from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Pashtun nationalist Awami National Party (ANP). Leaders from both the parties denied their members were involved in the violence.
"Most of the suspects we have arrested are Afghan refugees. Some of them are locals," Chattha said.
During the two days of deadly disturbances, troops were authorised to use guns to quell the violence in which rioters set shops and houses on fire.
Police and paramilitary Rangers were still patrolling the city streets and affected areas to maintain peace Tuesday evening, paramilitary spokesman Major Mohammad Ali told AFP.
Karachi has experienced unrest in the past from tensions between the influential MQM and Pashtuns from the North West Frontier Province, who have settled in Karachi for jobs.
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