A reporter of Geo television channel was gunned down by unidentified persons as violence and target killings returned to this Pakistani city once again, claiming as many as eight lives.

Wali Babar was returning home from work when he was intercepted by some people in a car and gunned down from close range in the Liaquatabad area of the city Thursday.

“We are looking into the motive behind the killing and it is premature to say if this was also a target killing,” a senior police official said. But Geo News channel described the incident as another target killing which has claimed eight lives since Tuesday.

Police arrested 12 people Friday from the Pehlwan Goth area of Gulistan-e-Jauhar following a search operation after violence started from the area on Tuesday night. Pehlwan Goth has been in the grip of violence for the past three days after three people with political affiliations were killed stirring unrest in the area.

Firing continued in the area Friday as the clashes between two opposing political groups intensified.

The clashes have generally been between the supporters of the Mutthaida Qaumi Movement and Awami National Party, the parties which are coalition partners with the ruling Pakistan People’s Party.

Just before the killing of Babar, a senior leader of the ANP, Bashir Jan and his driver were attacked in Gharibabad area with the driver later succumbing to his injuries in hospital.

At least eight people, including three ANP activists and three MQM activists, were gunned down in targeted killings Thursday.