• Witnesses recall carnage at Nishat Commercial after five Bugti men slain in gunfight
• One resident says ‘seriously thinking of moving out’

KARACHI: The morning after a terribly disturbing shoot-out incident between two groups of the Bugti clan in Defence Housing Authority’s (DHA) Nishat Commercial Area, blood stains were still visible on the muddy ground of a vacant plot.

Located in the midst of several apartment buildings, the plot is used as a parking lot by residents of the area. But this was where five people were shot dead when two groups had engaged in a gunfight late on Thursday night.

On Friday, many residents were gathered there, inspecting their cars.

A white Toyota Hilux started leaking oil from the engine when it was started. It had been used as a shield by one side during the firing. Upon opening the hood, it was discovered that several bullets had punctured its engine.

There was another car with a smashed windscreen, several others with bullet holes in their bumpers and doors. The cascade of bullets had shaken up the entire neighbourhood the night before.

One neighbour of the slain Fahad Bugti, pointed towards one of the buildings saying that the leader of one of the fighting sides lived there.

“He was coming out of his building with two of his men when two cars from either side blocked him. There was gunfire as everyone brought out their weapons,” narrated the eye-witness.

“This area of DHA is predominantly occupied by Baloch and Pakhtuns. I’m a Pakhtun and I understand the traditions of both. For an instant, I considered trying to stop the fight. If a woman comes out bareheaded holding up the Holy Quran, there is immediate ceasefire. But I could see Fahad and some others lying lifeless on the ground and thought it futile to come out,” she said.

Khalid Wali, a 12-year-old ragpicker with his big bag, said that he was sleeping outside a warehouse when he heard the gunshots and came running out to see what was going on.

“There were not just guns, they also attacked each other with baseball bats and axes,” said the little fellow.

“After Ali Haider Bugti fell down, he was also beaten with these items. And bearing his injuries, he still lifted his sons and carried them to his SUV. Both sides were picking up their dead and injured and rushing off with them. The police arrived late,” he added.

Meanwhile, other residents of DHA who heard about the incident expressed their shock and horror online.

A resident said on social media: “I can’t believe that this happened here. Has DHA turned into some tribal agency?”

“Lately, DHA and Cantonment Board Clifton [CBC] want residents to submit forms with complete details of their servants and house help. I think there should be some kind of check on what kind of people are coming to live in this once peaceful locality,” said a resident of DHA Phase 6.

“There are huge signs displayed all over DHA against the display of arms. And here people are openly indulging in gunfights. No DHA vigilance team was seen during such a savage incident. And the police came late too. The residents of Defence were left defenseless. I’m seriously thinking of moving out of DHA with my family,” wrote another user, who lives close to Nishat Commercial.

“When people have too much money, they indulge in such baseless disputes and family feuds. DHA is a place for the affluent…these people who ruin the peace of others should not even be living in this city,” another DHA resident wrote on social media.

“That day is not far when there will be a Rangers operation needed in DHA like there was in Lyari, if such kinds of incidents and such kinds of tribal groups are allowed to live among us,” feared yet another DHA resident.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2024