KARACHI - Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, apparently, seemed to have failed to put an end to the politically-motivated target killings as the death toll rose to 18 during the last 48 hours here on Sunday. According to reports, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik arrived in Karachi on Saturday in a bid to resolve the dispute between the two rival political parties - the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Awami National Party (ANP) but all these efforts made by the Minister proved ineffective as both the parties continued putting the blame on each other. As may as six people were gunned down after the meetings of the Federal Minister with the political parties. The victims who were killed on ethnic basis included two activists of ANP and one of the MQM. The first incident took place near Madni Masjid in Nayabad area in the Baghdadi Police precincts. The police said that 30-year-old Javaid, son of Noor Muha-mmad, a resident of Khada market Kharader and his friend Sahib Ali Khan, 28, hail from Buner, were standing on a roadside when two culprits, riding a motorcycle arrived and sprayed them with bullets. Resultantly both of them sustained severe bullets wounds and were rushed to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) where doctors pronounced them dead. The bodies were handed over to the families after legal formalities. The police registered FIR no 320/10, 321/10 against unidentified culprits. In a similar incident, a man was shot dead near Noorul Islam Mosque at Baldia Town in the remit of Mochko Police. The police said that Abdul Malik, a resident of Noor Mohalla, was sitting near his house when armed men, on a motorbike, opened indiscriminate firing at him. The police confirmed that he was affiliated with the MQM and suspect the murder could be part of the current target killings. The body was shifted to Civil Hospital and later handed over to the family after autopsy. In another incident, unidentified culprits opened fire at a passenger bus, killing one Taj Rehman and injuring three other passengers at Qalandaria Chowk in the limits of Sharah-e-Noor Jahan Police. Separately, some unidentified culprits let off a volley of gunfire at Quetta Sardar Hotel, killing Bashir Khan on the spot and injuring Jalal Khan in the jurisdiction of Samanabad Police. In another incident, Afzal, 28, was killed in a firing incident at Noorani Mohalla in the limits of Baldia Town Police. Meanwhile, unidentified criminals killed a truck driver and a cleaner at Orangi Town in the remit of Orangi Police. The police said the deceased were identified as Nisar Khan, 30, and cleaner as Abdul Wahid, 35, both residents of Momina-bad area. They were sitting on the truck when unidentified culprits sprayed bullets on truck and managed to flee. Resultantly, Nisar and Wahid sustained bullet wounds and were taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where both succumbed to their wounds. The police registered FIR 538/10 against unidentified culprits on the complaint of truck owner Rafiq. In other incident, a man was killed near Lyari General Hospital at Ghayab Shah Road in the Kalakot Police precinct. According to the police, the victim namely Fateh Shair Ali, 35, was gunned down by unidentified culprits near Lyari General Hospital. The body was shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi for legal formalities and later handed over to the family. Separately, the police found a bullet-riddled body, bearing severe torture marks from Sector 5-D in the remit of Zaman Town Police. According to the police, identity of the deceased could not be ascertained yet. However, the deceased appeared to be a 26-year-old man from Bengali community. The body was shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for legalities and later moved to the mortuary for identification. It is to be noted here that the law enforcement agencies (LEA), so far seem unable to stop the killing of innocent citizens and some 18 people have been killed during the 48 hours. Both the Police and Rangers, especially the Rangers despite having special powers, seem unable to conduct a search operation in the areas, being used by the criminals as their dens. Residents of the Gulistan-e-Juhar while talking to The Nation told that they had a hope when security personnel cordoned off Rabia City Apartment, a residential block consists of more than 3,000 houses but the contingents went back without any action. They pointed out that some dozen of criminals, having sophisticated weaponry had made life of the area people miserable. Kidnapping, extortion, murder and armed clashes is a routine matter but the law enforcement agencies have failed to take any action against them. It has also been learnt that law enforcement agencies have cordoned off Gulshan View Apartment, located on Abul Hassan Isphani Road, with intent to conduct a search operation but got back without any operation.