The normally bustling streets of Pakistan's largest city Karachi are all but deserted.
Shops are shuttered, and most businesses and education institutions closed to mark a day of mourning as a series of shooting incidents continue unabated.
The wave of violence broke out after an activist for one of the region's main political parties was killed on Wednesday evening.
Three supporters of a rival party were killed two days later, with local media reporting at least 14 people gunned down in a 24-hour period.
Anxious residents scan the newspapers to find out what is happening.
(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) MOHAMMAD AMEEN, LOCAL SHOPKEEPER SAYING:
"Those who are committing these crimes are not right, and neither are those who are making them do it. Muslims are killing Muslims. These are signs of the end of the world."
A city of more than 18 million, Karachi has a long history of violence.
Ethnic, religious, and sectarian disputes and political rows often explode into battles engulfing entire neighbourhoods.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters.
