13 dead as violence escalates in Karachi ahead of Muharram

Police also found throat-slit bodies of a couple inside a water tank of a house located near Qatar Mor area of Orangi Town area, while another body bearing torture marks was found in Ittehad town in Baldia.

Three other persons were also killed yesterday in separate incidents.

The wave of violence comes ahead of the Muslim holy month of Muharram which begins tomorrow with Shia Muslims observing Ashura or the tenth day of the month next Friday.  

Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani flew down to Karachi yesterday for a detailed briefing on the operations currently underway to flush out criminal and militant elements from the city.