KARACHI: Pakistani authorities on Friday issued shoot-at-sight orders and ordered the deployment of 1,000 additional paramilitary troops in Karachi as vicious violence continued to paralyse the country's financial capital, leaving nearly 90 people dead in last four days.

Rockets were fired and grenades lobbed as violence wracked the city with thousands of people stranded in their home in fear of flying bullets. Police and rescue officials said that in the last four days, 88 people had been killed with some 200 wounded in target killings and indiscriminate firing in many parts of the city, owing to political as well as ethnic clashes.

Struck by the magnitude of incidents in Karachi, the US Embassy in Islamabad said it is deeply concerned about the escalating violence. "We call on all parties to refrain from further violence and work toward a peaceful resolution of differences," US ambassador Cameron Munter said.

"The loss of over 60 lives, including women and children, in the last three days is a tragedy."
Karachi has been rocked by violence despite the presence of Pakistan's President Asif Zardari in the city where he is stationed at the Bilawal house and has held meetings with his aides to discuss the situation. Interior minister Rehman Malik, who rushed to Karachi on Thursday, said that 1,000 additional militia force will be deployed and "targeted action" will be taken against the miscreants.

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