Female folk singer Mai Sobhayi shot dead in Dera Bugti

Police say motive remains unclear as efforts continue to identify and arrest those responsible for the killing

Mai Sobhayi, a folk singer from the Bugti tribe who was known for performing publicly, was shot dead by armed assailants in Balochistan's Dera Bugti.

According to local media reports, unidentified gunmen opened fire on Bugti in the Dera Bugti area, killing her on the spot before fleeing the scene. Reports differed on the number of attackers, with some outlets reporting that a group of armed men carried out the shooting.

Police said the motive behind the killing had not yet been established and that the case was being investigated from multiple angles. Authorities said efforts were under way to identify and arrest those responsible.

Bugti was known as the first female folk singer from the Bugti tribe and had broken with local tradition by performing and showcasing her music publicly.

Her death has drawn attention to the challenges faced by women who perform publicly in conservative and tribal parts of Balochistan, where women’s visibility can attract heightened scrutiny.