FIR lodged on behalf of state regarding Bugti clan massacre in Karachi

KARACHI: An FIR was registered in the name of the state on Friday in connection with a gunfight between two groups of Bugti family that left five people dead and two others injured on both sides in DHA on Thursday night, police said.

IG South chief Asad Raza said the case was registered by a police officer under charges of terrorism and murder.

Asked why the case was registered in the name of the state, the DIG said: “We want to send a clear message to both sides that such an act is not acceptable.”

He explained that if either side had agreed to register a case, they would have probably reached a compromise. However, he added, the versions of both sides have been included in the FIR.

DIG says the case has been registered under charges of terrorism and murder; versions of both sides are mentioned in the FIR

According to the FIR filed by Sub-Inspector Mohammed Saleem Brohi of Darakhshan police, nine to ten armed men from both sides (led by Fahad Bugti and Ali Haider Bugti) attacked each other near Nishat Commercial Animal Hospital.

The killed were identified as Fahad Bugti and Naseebullah on one side, and Meer Mohsim Bugti, Mir Essa Bugti and Ali on the other.

Ali Haider Bugti and Qaim Ali were injured and taken to hospital.

According to the DIG, Ali Haider Bugti, who was himself injured, lost two sons in the shootout. Police have taken steps to arrest 17 people from the Bugti clan.

“Eight persons were arrested shortly after the incident while the remaining suspects were arrested early Friday morning,” the DIG said.

He said two injured members of the Bugti family were shifted to the Aga Khan University Hospital for treatment, where police had been deployed as investigators were treating the injured as suspects.

He said the two groups – one led by Fahad, nephew of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti, and the other led by Mir Ali Haider Bugti, who is also Nawab Akbar’s maternal nephew – gave different versions of the incident.

Fahad’s supporters claimed that they were attacked by Ali Haider’s group and that they responded in “self-defense.” On the other hand, Ali Haider’s group also claimed that they were attacked.

DIG Raza said that CCTV footage showed that Fahad Bugti and his gunmen were coming out of his house in two luxury vehicles, while Ali Haider Bugti and his gunmen/sons were travelling in a single vehicle and they hit Fahad’s vehicle with their car. A fierce gunfight then broke out between the two parties.

Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said post-mortem examinations of the bodies were conducted and they had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.

Meanwhile, Washne Bugti, grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti and nephew of Fahad Bugti, on Friday urged Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah to look into the matter and ask the IG police to ensure fair and free investigation into the case.

Published in Dawn, July 27, 2024