Property worth over 30 billion rupees gutted in Karachi violence

KARACHI - Property worth rupees 30 billion rupees was gutted in a fire in the violence that followed the ghastly suicide attack on the Muharram procession in which 40 people were killed here.

An angry mob set ablaze the Light House building situated on MA Jinnah Road. While several vehicles, parked around the city court, were also set on fire in the violence, which erupted soon after the blast.

Attique Mir, Chairman Alliance Market, Karachi, said that over 2000 shops were torched in the incident.

Mir criticised the authorities for their laid back attitude and said that majority of the shops were completely destroyed in the fire, as there were no fire brigade staff present in the fire station at the time of emergency.

All Pakistan Memon Federation Association President Ahmed Chinnai has demanded the government to pay damages for the losses suffered due to the violence, The News reports.

Affected shopkeepers and traders have called on a meeting today (December 29) to estimate the total loss and their future course of action. (ANI)