Gunmen have opened fire in a commercial market in Karachi, killing 11 people and raising the death toll from political violence to 51, a Pakistani official said.

Gangs torched vehicles and a shop in Pakistan’s largest city today after a senior politician from the local ruling party was stabbed to death in London.

The largest city in Pakistan came to a near-halt today amid fears of violence after the murder in London of a senior politician from Karachi’s ruling party.

Pakistan deployed additional security forces in Karachi today after 13 more people were killed in political and ethnic violence.

At least 37 people were shot dead in Karachi, Pakistan following the assassination of a politician, hospital chiefs said today.

The political crisis surrounding Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf deepened dramatically today, when gunbattles and clashes between supporters and opponents of the military-led government left 28 people dead in Pakistan’s biggest city.

Gun battles and attacks killed at least 11 people and wounded dozens today as Pakistan’s political crisis descended into violence between rival parties over President Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s suspension of the chief justice.

Pakistan's largest city remains tense as polls opposed by powerful ethnic groups open for local Government elections after a night of violence in which five people have been killed.