Two more police officers shot dead in Pakistan's Karachi

Unidentified gunmen shot dead two police officers in the Pakistani southern port city of Karachi Sunday, bringing death toll of police officer to five in less than 12 hours.

The gunmen, riding a motorbike, fired at the police officers in central Karachi, critically injuring them. They later died in hospital, doctors said.

The slain police officers were on routine patrolling duty near a Shiite mosque in Nazim Abad when they were targeted. The gunmen fled. No group claimed responsibility. The authorities blamed militant groups for attacks on security personnel.

Police described the incident as a targeted attack. Attacks on police have increased in Karachi in recent days. Three policemen were killed Saturday night in what the authorities said targeted killings.

The death toll of police officers reached 12 this month, police sources said.

The police and paramilitary troops are engaged in operation in the city of nearly 20 million people against Taliban, sectarian groups, kidnappers, extortionists and criminal gangs.

Officials say hundreds of miscreants have so for been killing in the operation launched in September 2013.

Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali said the operation will continue until criminals are eliminated.

Karachi is considered as the commercial hub of Pakistan.

Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital, is ruled by the Pakistan Peoples Party of former President Asif Ali Zardari. Endi