13 dead as violence escalates in Karachi ahead of Muharram

In the past few months there has been a rise in the killings of Shia doctors and on October 10, doctors from the minority community held demonstrations to highlight the rise in violence against them.

Shias make up around a fifth of Pakistan's predominantly Sunni Muslim population.

Karachi, the financial hub of Pakistan, is riddled with targeted killings, gang wars, kidnappings, extortion and terrorism.