Karachi, December 28
At least 32 persons, including a PML (Q) candidate, have been killed as violence continued today in several Pakistani cities following the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, prompting authorities to deploy the army and issue “shoot-to-kill” orders.

Angry Bhutto supporters went on a rampage looting banks, torching vehicles and an office of President Pervez Musharraf backed PML (Q) party, burning railway stations and clashing with the police in Sindh, Bhutto’s home province that was worst affected by the violence.

The army had been deployed in sensitive areas of Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, the hometown of the slain former Prime Minister, Dadu and Rohri to prevent more loss of lives and damage to public and private property, Sindh’s home secretary Mohammad Mohtaram said. He said 23 persons, including four security officials have so far been killed in the riots. Also, nine persons, including a PML (Q) leader, were killed and several others injured in an explosion near an election rally in Pakistan’s restive northwestern Swat valley.

Former provincial minister Asfandyar Amirzaib, who is contesting the upcoming polls on a PML(Q) ticket, was among those killed when his vehicle was targeted with an explosive device in Mingora, the headquarters of Swat district. — PTI