Wadh violence intensifies

Vehicular traffic on Quetta-Karachi National Highway suspended

QUETTA:

A heavy exchange of firing resumed on Thursday between two rival groups of Mengal tribe in Wadh town of Khuzdar district in Balochistan, suspending vehicular traffic on Quetta-Karachi National Highway and badly disrupting normal life in the area.

According to reports, the exchange of firing continued between the men, who were waiting in trenches for over one and half months following a ceasefire negotiated by Nawab Aslam Raisani, the chief of Sarawan tribes, and other tribal elders. The clashes between the two groups have killed at least three men and injured several others since they started in July this year.

Sources said the firing intensified on Thursday morning as the men were using heavy weapons and firing rockets as well as mortar shells at each other’s positions.

There were reports about the killing of one person in the heavy gunfire, which continued till late evening. However, officials have not confirmed any casualty so far in the firing.

An official in Wadh, when contacted on phone, confirmed that there was a heavy exchange of firing in the town and its surrounding areas. “We are hearing explosions of rockets and mortar shells landing in different areas,” he said.
The traffic on Quetta-Karachi National Highway was suspended because of the exchange of firing as the men from both groups were positioned in their trenches on opposite sides of the road.

“We have closed the road to avoid any incident of firing,” an official said, adding that motorists and pedestrian were asked to avoid traveling until further orders.

Officials said security forces were making efforts for the two groups to reach a ceasefire again with the help of tribal elders.