Two boys and a protester were killed on Thursday when gunfire erupted in Karachi during rallies by supporters of Benazir Bhutto, police and party officials said. The protest deaths in Lyari were the first since President Pervez Musharraf imposed a state of emergency on November 3.
"There was a demonstration against the house arrest of Benazir Bhutto. Somebody among the demonstrators opened fire and two boys aged around 11 or 12 were killed," police official Fayyaz Khan told AFP.
Tension gripped the area after the shooting and further gunfire broke out, witnesses said. People pelted vehicles with stones and burned tyres to block roads. A Bhutto party activist was shot dead by police in the later clashes, party spokesman Ijaz Durrani told AFP.
"He was chanting slogans when police fired some shots. He sustained serious bullet injuries and was taken to Lyari general hospital where he died," Durrani said. The hospital confirmed it had received a body with bullet wounds but police were not immediately available for comment.
Khan said there had been gunfire for the past three days during rallies by Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in Lyari, a party stronghold. "They have also been firing at police stations, my office also came under attack, but this is the first time that there have been casualties," he said. Durrani denied any party supporters had opened fire and instead suggested the involvement of undercover police.
"Our protesters came under attack, maybe some policemen in civilian clothes could be involved in the firing. We are investigating but we suspect police involvement," Durrani told AFP. He added: "We do not believe in gun culture. Our people were peaceful, they never indulge in such incidents." Police official Khan denied police were implicated in the boys' deaths.
"It is a big lie. Our people are not involved," Khan said. "There were some people among the demonstrators who were doing this, they are responsible for the deaths." Shops and markets were closed, while schools in the area have been shut for the last three days.
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