A violent clash between two groups in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) resulted in the deaths of five individuals, including Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti’s nephew, Fahad Ahmed Nawaz Bugti. The shootout, which occurred late Thursday night in DHA’s Khayaban-i-Nishat, also left three others critically injured.
According to Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) South, Syed Asad Raza, the confrontation was between two factions of the Bugti clan, led by Fahad Bugti and Ali Haider Bugti. The clash began over a personal enmity, escalating into a gunfight near Ali Haider’s residence.
Fahad Bugti, 50, a nephew of the slain Baloch chieftain Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, and four others, including Naseebullah Bugti, Meer Mohsin Bugti, Mir Essa Bugti, and their gunman Ali, lost their lives. Ali Haider Bugti, also a maternal nephew of the Bugti chieftain, and his associate Qaim Ali Qadir sustained critical injuries and are receiving treatment at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) under police guard.
The shootout reportedly began around 11:25 pm on Thursday. Initial reports indicate that Fahad Bugti and his gunmen were leaving his residence in two luxury vehicles when Ali Haider and his associates, traveling in a single vehicle, collided with Fahad’s car, leading to a heavy exchange of gunfire. Both factions have provided conflicting versions of the incident, each claiming they were attacked first and retaliated in self-defense. CCTV footage obtained by the police shows the sequence of events, supporting the claim that the initial shots were fired near the main gate of Fahad Bugti’s residence.
In response to the incident, Karachi police have arrested 17 suspects, including two gunmen, from both factions involved in the clash. DIG Raza stated that eight individuals were apprehended shortly after the shootout, while the remaining suspects were detained early Friday morning. The arrested individuals belong to both rival gangs within the Bugti family. The Sindh Home Minister Zia ul Hasan Lanjar has ordered a detailed report from the Additional Inspector-General of Police for Karachi and has emphasized that strict legal action will be taken against those involved in the violent clash. “No one would be allowed to spoil the peace in the metropolis,” declared the minister.
The autopsies of the deceased were conducted at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Civil Hospital Karachi, where it was confirmed that all five individuals sustained multiple firearm injuries. The incident has prompted a significant police response, with additional patrols and security measures implemented in the area to prevent further violence.
This violent episode has revealed the ongoing tensions and rivalries within the Bugti clan which have been festering for years. The shootout is part of a longstanding feud between the two groups, who have previously lodged first information reports (FIRs) against each other at the Sahil and Darakhshan police stations.