| Jul and Aug 2011 Karachi target killings | |
|---|---|
| Location | Karachi, Pakistan |
| Date | 6 July 2011 to mid August 2011, violence subdued as of September 2011 |
| Target | Various ethnic groups |
Attack type | Targeted killings |
| Weapons | Automatic weapons |
| Deaths | ~344 |
| Injured | Hundreds |
During the months of July and August 2011, a number of targeted killings in Karachi, Pakistan left hundreds of people dead. The attacks are part of an ongoing terrorist campaign of political, ethnic and religious violence that has gripped the city in its worst form in the recent years. The targeted killings of Shias in Pakistan have been described by international human rights groups as a genocide.[1] Since 1963, the government of Pakistan estimates more than 23,000 Shias have been killed in Pakistan, however, that number is widely believed to be a vast undercount.[2] In mid-July, ANP politicians accused the MQM expelling 3–4,000 Pashtuns out of their neighbourhoods.[3] Dawn reported in 29 August that ethnic Pashtuns were leaving Karachi due to the violence.[4]
The real problem is that a particular organization [MQM] claims the ownership of Karachi and denies other communities the right to live here," he says. "That organization has forced 3,000 to 4,000 Pashtuns from their neighborhoods so far.
According to the HRCP, businesses usually run by Pashtuns [also called Pashtos (RFE/RL 8 Aug. 2011), Pukhtoons (IRIN 11 July 2011), Pushtuns (The Economist 16 Dec. 2010, and Pakhtuns (HRCP 8 Oct. 2011)], such as pushcarts, trucks, roadside restaurants, and rickshaws, are often targeted, regardless of whether they are affiliated with a political party (8 Oct. 2011). The HRCP told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) that the Pashtun population in the Kali Pahari district of Karachi has been particularly impacted by the violence (8 Aug. 2011). Dawn reports that some Pashtuns are leaving Karachi because of the violence (29 Aug. 2011).