KHUZDAR/DERA MURAD JAMALI: At least 11 people were killed and over two dozen injured in firing and road accidents in different areas of Balochistan during Eidul Fitr holidays, police said on Monday.

Levies officials said some unidentified armed men opened fire on a convoy of PPP leader Sardar Asadullah Shahwani in Sheikhri area of Kalat district, killing three people on the spot and injuring two others.

The deceased were identified as Muhammad Amin, Hafiz Saeed Ahmed and Muhammad Ali.

Mr Shahwani was targeted when he was coming back to his home after performing Eidul Fitr prayer in Sheikhri village.

The armed men opened fire when Mr Shahwani stopped at a graveyard to offer fateha for the departed souls of his relatives along with his security guards and other people.

Levies Force personnel rushed to the area soon after receiving the information about the incident and shifted bodies and the injured to district hospital. Sardar Asad Shahwani and his security guard were shifted to Quetta after initial treatment.

The cause of the killing was not known so far, but Levies Force officials said that it appeared to be the result of an old enmity.

In another incident, two persons were shot dead and another was injured by unknown armed men in Dera Bugti district on Monday.

Levies Force officials said the incident took place in Jury village of Dera Bugti. The injured were admitted to Dera Bugti district hospital. The cause of the killing remained unknown.

In another firing incident, armed men shot dead a man and a woman in the name of honour in the village Thal Gola of Tehsil Khatan of Kachhi district.

Levies Force personnel took bodies of the victims to Dhadar district hospital where they were identified as Imdad Ali and Marvi.

“This is an honour killing incident,” Levies Force officials said, adding that the armed men escaped after the incident. A case has been registered and further investigation is underway.

Road accident

A child was killed and 16 other people were injured when a speeding passenger van overturned in the Yakmach area of Quetta-Taftan highway. Levies Force officials shifted the injured to the Dalbandin hospital where an 8-year-old child died.

In another road accident in Mathari area of Sibi district, one person was killed and eight others were injured when a car collided with a truck. The condition of four injured people was stated to be serious.

In another incident, a seven-year-old girl drowned in Hub River while taking a bath along with other family members.

In a similar incident, a teenage boy drowned in Bolan River while on a picnic with his family member in the area.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2023