Five people, including prominent tribal elder Dad Muhammad Kakar, were killed and two others injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire in the Nadra Market area of Mezai Adda in Balochistan’s Qilla Abdullah district late Sunday night.
According to local sources, the attackers opened fire on a group of people gathered in the market before escaping from the scene. The attack left five people dead, including Dad Muhammad Kakar, while two others sustained injuries. Among the injured was Karachi Hotel Association President Syed Jafar Agha.
The killings triggered widespread anger among local tribes. In protest against the incident, tribal members placed the bodies of the victims on the Quetta-Chaman Highway at the Wol Masezai Qamar Bridge area and launched a sit-in, demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible.
The sit-in brought traffic on the strategic Quetta-Chaman Highway to a halt, disrupting the movement of passengers and goods between the two cities. Protest leaders said the demonstration would continue until authorities assured them that the perpetrators would be apprehended and brought to justice. Participants in the sit-in also called for improved security measures in the area to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, tensions escalated in the Dulongi area, where intense fighting between the Sagi Tareen and Hamidzai tribes has continued since Sunday night. Local sources reported heavy exchanges of fire between the rival groups in several locations.
The ongoing clashes claimed the life of police official Head Muharrar Nazar Gul Hamidzai. Sources further said that multiple houses were set ablaze during the violence, causing extensive property damage and forcing some families to leave their homes.
Security forces and district administration officials are reportedly monitoring both situations. However, no official statement has yet been issued regarding the identities of the attackers in the Mezai Adda shooting or efforts to mediate the tribal conflict in Dulongi.
The deadly shooting and the continuing tribal clashes have heightened concerns about security and public safety in northern Balochistan, where residents are urging authorities to take swift action to restore order and prevent further loss of life.
