A man described by local sources as the head of a state-supported armed group was killed along with a guard in a shooting incident in the Nimargh area of Kalat district, Balochistan, according to local officials.
Authorities said that Abdul Rahim, also known as Mir Sakhi Jan Sasoli, was at his tube well when unidentified assailants on motorcycles opened fire before fleeing the scene.
As a result of the shooting, Abdul Rahim, son of Mir Abdul Ghafoor and a resident of Nimargh, and his guard, Zafarullah, son of Saadullah from Gidar Surab, were killed at the scene. Another guard, Ikramullah, son of Noor Mohammad and also a resident of Nimargh, was seriously injured.
Such armed groups are locally referred to as “death squads”. Baloch nationalist groups allege that these formations are created and supported by Pakistani secretive agencies and the military to counter the Baloch independence movement. Pakistani authorities have previously denied such allegations.
Officials have not confirmed the identity or affiliation of the attackers, and no group has claimed responsibility for the incident so far. An investigation is reported to be under way.