Islamabad, May 19 (IANS): A senior woman politician in Pakistan's port city of Karachi was gunned down by motorcycle-riding assailants outside her residence late Saturday, a media report said Sunday.

Zahra Shahid Hussain, vice president in Sindh province of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was killed in an attempted robbery on the eve of re-polls in Karachi's NA-250 constituency, Dawn News reported.

Police said three motorcycle riders tried to snatch Hussain's handbag and opened fire at the leader outside her residence in Defence Housing Authority Phase-IV area.

Police said the incident appeared to be a purse-snatching attempt that went wrong. However, further investigation was on.

All three gunmen fled the spot immediately after the attack.

Condemning the killing, party chief Imran Khan requested the government to take action against Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) leader Altaf Hussain for allegedly issuing threatening and provocative statements to incite violence in the country.

Meanwhile, gunmen opened fire in several areas of Hyderabad city Sunday, including outside the house of PTI leader Usman Kennedy, Dawn News reported.

His car was set on fire while several shops in the area were vandalised.