June 26, 1995, New York Times, Muslim Militants Kill 33 in Karachi,

June 26, 1995, New York Times, Muslim Militants Kill 33 in Karachi,

Militants waging a terror campaign against rival Muslims and the Government killed 33 people here today, firing grenade launchers and burning several buildings in Karachi's financial center, police officials said.

The police said several victims had been tortured, their throats slit and their legs and hands tied.

The rampage by the militant Mohajir Qaumi Movement, which says it is fighting for the rights of Karachi's majority Mohajirs -- Muslims who fled India after partition in 1947 -- has killed nearly 75 people since Thursday night. Officials said that over the past five weeks, more than 300 people have been killed in Karachi in fighting between Muslim factions and attacks on security forces and the police.

The police say the rampage was mounted to avenge the supposed rape of a 16-year-old connected to the dominant Mohajir Qaumi Movement faction, lead by Altaf Hussein. That group says the rape was committed by members of the rival Haqiqi faction.

Late on Saturday, Mr. Hussein's faction gave Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's Government a list of demands to end the violence, including the release of faction members arrested over the past several months.