Attack on Political Camp Injures 15 in Pakistan's Karachi

At least 15 people including three parliamentarians were injured when gunmen opened fire on a political party camp in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, officials said Friday.

The incident occurred in the city's restive eastern district Orangi Town when the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) membership drive meeting came under gun and grenade attack.

"At least 15 people including three parliamentarians of the Sindh provincial assembly were injured when gunmen riding on motorbikes hurled hand grenades at the camp and started indiscriminate firing," senior police official Irfan Baluch told AFP.

He said the injured were moved to the government-run Abbasi Shaheed hospital adding that all were in a stable condition.

The incident was confirmed by other police officials and members of the MQM.

MQM represents the city's dominant Urdu-speaking population.

Hours later, the party chief Altaf Hussain addressed his workers in Orangi town via telephone from his office in London and condemned the incident.

"Cowardly attacks like this cannot deter our courage," he said urging his party workers to stand united and continue peaceful struggle for the party goals.

Karachi, a city of 18 million people which contributes 42 percent of Pakistan's GDP, has been plagued by sectarian, ethnic and political violence for years.