A devastating armed attack on a passenger bus in Balochistan's Kalat district has left three members of a travelling qawwali party dead and at least 13 members injured, music industry insiders confirmed on Wednesday.
The group, which was en route from Karachi to Quetta for a private performance, came under fire late Tuesday night when unidentified assailants opened fire on their vehicle near the Johan area of Kalat.
Law enforcement agencies have termed the incident a targeted assault.
Among those killed was Muhammad Asif, a promising young bass player from Karachi, who had been making a name for himself in the city's live music circuit. The bassist had performed for famous singers such as Rahim Shah and Natasha Baig.
The other two deceased, Muhammad Ahmed Bashir Sabri and Muhammad Raza, were long-time members of the qawwali troupe.
The musical troupe was reportedly associated with the wider circle of the late Amjad Sabri, although not directly performing under his banner. Instruments belonging to the performers were also damaged in the assault.
Hassan Ali Effandi, a music producer and curator from Karachi told The Express Tribune that Asif in particular had been an avid part of the growing live performance circuit in Karachi and had also performed for the famous singer Natasha Baig.
Nimra Rafiq of Coke Studio fame also took to Facebook to remember Asif. “Really shocked and heartbroken to hear about Asif Bhai. He used to play bass with me and we did so many shows together. May Allah grant him peace and the highest place in Jannah. Ameen.
Nadeem Sabri, the elder brother of Majid Ali Sabri, under whose leadership the qawwal party operates, released a video to express his grief and anguish over the brutal assault.
In an emotional video message that has since gone viral, Sabri recalled the harrowing moments leading up to the ambush.
“We were just thirty minutes away from our destination when bullets rained down on us,” he said. “Qawwals and artists are ambassadors of peace. I fail to understand what our fault was. Why were we targeted?”
Fighting back tears, Sabri mourned the loss of three lives from the group, adding that nearly everyone in the party had suffered injuries. “We’ve lost three invaluable souls. The entire group has been wounded, and even our equipment, our means of livelihood, has been destroyed in this attack.”
Civil society members and musicians have expressed outrage over the attack, calling for greater protection for artists travelling across provinces.
Law enforcement officials say a first information report (FIR) has been registered, and investigations are underway.
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