KARACHI: At least five men were killed in an armed clash between two groups in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi late Thursday, police officials said.
Both groups, who exchanged gunfire in Karachi’s Defense Housing Authority (DHA) area, belong to the Bugti tribe based in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, according to police.
Asad Raza, deputy inspector-general (DIG) of Karachi’s South district, told Arab News that both parties involved were cousins and part of extended family of late Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.
“It appears that the conflict began when one party’s vehicle collided with another, leading to a heated argument that quickly escalated to an exchange of fire,” Raza said.
“The two cousins already had past family issues, and the accident acted as a catalyst for the tragedy.”
Police had arrested 17 individuals from both sides, including two gunmen from crime scene and two injured persons, according to the official.
Clashes among tribesmen over family feuds and lands have been a common occurrence in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan and southern Sindh provinces.
Earlier this year, Bugti tribesmen attacked bandits in riverine areas of Sindh near the Punjab-Balochistan border and killed nine dacoits, according to local media reports.
The Bugti tribesmen attacked the area to avenge the killing of one of their tribal leaders, Sardar Abdul Rehman Kalpar Bugti, who was allegedly gunned down by the bandits.
The warring factions often accuse each other of injustices and police of siding with opponents, an allegation denied by the law enforcers.
Five killed in armed clash between rival groups in Pakistan’s Karachi
https://arab.news/yh87m
Five killed in armed clash between rival groups in Pakistan’s Karachi
- Both groups, who exchanged gunfire in Karachi’s Defense Housing Authority, belong to the Bugti tribe based in the southwestern Balochistan province
- DIG Asad Raza says the rival groups were led by cousins who already had family issues and an accident involving their cars acted as catalyst for tragedy
Pakistan engages Saudi Arabia, China in bid to ease surging Middle East tensions
- Pakistan’s foreign minister stresses need for de-escalation in conversations with Chinese, Saudi counterparts
- Tensions in the Middle East continue to remain high as conflict between US, Israel and Iran intensifies
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar spoke to the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and China on Tuesday, stressing the importance of diplomatic engagement to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East as the Iran war intensifies.
Pakistan has constantly engaged regional countries in efforts to broker a ceasefire in the Middle East, after the US and Isreal launched coordinated strikes against Iran on Feb. 28.
Iran launched fresh attacks on Gulf countries on Tuesday morning, where it has targeted US military bases in recent weeks. In addition to firing missiles and drones at Israel and American bases in the region, Iran has also been targeting energy infrastructure which, combined with its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, has sent oil prices soaring worldwide.
Dar spoke to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to discuss developments in the Middle East and ongoing deliberations at the UN Security Council, Pakistan’s foreign office said in a statement.
“DPM/FM shared Pakistan’s perspective, underscoring the importance of continued coordination and diplomatic engagement to support de-escalation and promote peace and stability across the region and beyond,” the statement said.
Dar, who also serves as Pakistan’s foreign minister, spoke to Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi over the telephone separately. The two discussed the evolving regional situation and broader global developments.
Dar underscored the need to ease tensions in the Middle East and the wider region during the conversation, the foreign office said.
Yi appreciated Pakistan’s constructive efforts aimed at promoting de-escalation and stability in the region, it added.
“The two leaders stressed the importance of de-escalation and emphasized the need to pursue dialogue and diplomacy in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter,” the foreign office’s statement said.
The conflict in the Middle East has hit Pakistan hard as well, forcing Islamabad to hike petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 per liter last Friday.
Pakistan’s government has also announced a set of austerity measures, which include closing schools and cutting down on government expenditures, as it evaluates petrol stocks and looks for alternative supply routes.
