Additional IG police, Shahid Hayat said that four criminals died in exchange of fire with paramilitary rangers and police yesterday in the crime-infested area of Lyari.
"The rest of those killed have died as a result of gunfire between rival criminal gangs in different parts of Lyari," he said.
Hayat said a woman was also killed in Sangho area in a hand grenade attack late night.
The clashes between the gangs of notorious criminals, Uzair Baloch and Baba Ladla erupted after the killing of Zafar Baloch, a local leader of the Peoples Party.
Sources said police and the rangers were preparing for a joint operation in the affected parts of Lyari.
Lyari, one of the oldest areas of Karachi, has in recent years been hit hard by violence and is virtually ruled by criminal gangs who have affiliations with political parties.