KARACHI: Following the death of 39 people in Karachi, the rangers have been awarded special powers under Anti-Terrorism Act in the limit of 26 police stations to halt the rising incidents of violence in the city.

Section 144 has already been put into effect in these areas, while permissions granted for carrying arms have also been cancelled.

According to authorities, nine more people were shot dead in Pirabad, Sarjani Town, Liaquatabad, Buffer Zone, Mangho Pir, Sir Syed Town, Azizabad and PECH, after which the five-day death toll mounted to 39.

Tension gripped the affected areas, while enraged people staged protest in Nazimabad, Karimabad and other areas.

Earlier, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik chaired a high-level meeting called to discuss security situation in Karachi. 
   
 
According to another report, Home Minister of Sindh Zulfiqar Mirza has said army could be called in the city if needed.

Talking to media before start of provincial assembly session, Mirza said section 144 could also be imposed in other parts of the city.

Addressing the assembly session, provincial interior minister said police officers of SP level are being deputed in three operational headquarters of the Rangers and Rangers and police could launch joint operation to bring law and order situation under control.

He vowed that unbiased action would be taken against mischievous elements.

Meanwhile, another person was brutally killed by unidentified shooters on Tuesday morning, taking the tally of target killings to 27 persons within 4 days of extreme chaos, violence and tension here in metropolis; meanwhile, nearly 2 dozen more injured victims are being treated at separate hospitals in city, Geo news reported.

On Monday, at least 7 more people were gunned down by late night when some unidentified armed assailants opened indiscriminate fire in the Nazimabad and Khwaja Ajmer Nagri localities of metropolis city, mounting the death toll to 26.

According to reports, unknown armed men started firing near Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, killing four people, two of them on the spot. While two more succumbed to injuries in hospital. Immediately after the incident, the hospitals doors were closed.

Later, another incident of incessant firing occurred near Abbasi Phatak located underneath Nazimabad Bridge, killing 5 persons on the spot including a youth who resided in nearby flats, police sources said.

Two persons were gunned down in Orangi Town and Qasba Colony as the deceased persons were reportedly hailing from two different political parties and used to serve as their activists, sources claimed.