SHIKARPUR, March 9: A man identified as Hafiz Siraj Mahar, 40, years was shot dead allegedly by a group of armed Jatoi tribesmen in Sadiq Ji Wandh village within the remit of the Chak police station on Saturday morning.

The murder was apparently linked with an old dispute between Jatois and Mahars in the area although a jirga (tribal court) had recently settled the dispute and the two sides had agreed to end their hostility.

It was learnt that Mahars had withdrawn the cases they had lodged against some Jatois in accordance with the jirga ruling.

However, when a group of Mahar tribesmen returned home after a meeting with Jatoi elders over withdrawal of cases against Mahars, they came under armed attack, supposedly by some Jatoi tribesmen.

The attack left Hafiz Siraj Mahar dead. Sources in the area said that Jatoi elders in the meeting had assured Mahars that they would withdraw the cases pertaining to the dispute.

An FIR of the murder was yet to be registered.