Latest reports suggested that at least one police official was injured during the attack with intermittent firing between armed elements and law enforcement agencies.

However, police were unable to make any headway despite reinforcements by the South Zone police, stating that their opponents were armed with superior weapons.

More than 27 lives have been lost and more than 60 individuals injured from both sides while residents have been forced to flee to safer areas.

Afshani Street, Gabol Park and "Cheel Chowk" faced severe gunfire, with several rocket attacks on the police.

Witnesses told the media that the police was responsible for the clashes and there were no criminals in the Afshani street area as claimed by law enforcement agencies.

Witnesses also said that they were deprived of food, water and electricity and claimed that this is a biased operation by the government.

According to reports, 11 rockets were fired by miscreants at the police during the operation on the eighth day.

Earlier, an angry mob protested the operation in the area while leader of the banned Aman Committee Uzair Jan Baloch was also among them voicing his protest against the Lyari operation.

Talking to the media, Uzair Baloch said that the operation in Lyari should be stopped.

He said he will contest against Bilawal Bhutto Zardari if he stands for elections in the area.

 Copyright Business Recorder, 2012