Five dead as two Bugti groups trade gunfire in Karachi

KARACHI: Five people of the Bugti tribe were killed and two others wounded in a fierce gunbattle that took place in the Nishat Commercial area of Defence Housing Authority late on Thursday night.

Fahad Bugti, 50, his gunman Naseebullah, 35, Mir Mehsam Bugti, his brother Mir Issa Bugti and Ali were shot dead in the Darakhshan police remit, District South.

Responding to information about the shooting, police mobiles along with rescue teams rushed to the spot where they found several people critically wounded. The injured persons were taken to Jinnah Hospital, where five of them were pronounced dead.

Police officials said initial investigations showed that both Fahad and Mir Mehsam belonged to the Bugti tribe and were relatives, and they had an enmity.

Late on Thursday night, the two cousins had an argument at Nishat Commercial. They exchanged hot words, and both the parties took out weapons and opened fire upon.

The police officials said that in the shootout, Fahad Bugti, his gunman Naseebullah were killed while from the other group, Mir Ali Haider Bugti was injured and his two sons Mir Mehsam Bugti and Mir Issa Bugti were killed along with another man named Ali. Police sleuths said the deceased suffered multiple bullet wounds to their torsos. The police collected spent bullet shells from the scene and sent them to the forensic division of Sindh police for examination.

Talking to the media, DIG Asad Raza of South Range said the incident took place at 11.45pm. There was a person living in Defence Phase 6, and people from the opposite group came there. There was an altercation following which the firing took place.

Meanwhile, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar took notice of the armed clash between the two groups in Defence. He sought details from Karachi’s additional IG. Police sources said 12 suspects were rounded up after the deadly shooting.