QUETTA: Two people have been killed and three injured as clashes continued for the fourth consecutive day between two factions of Mengal tribe in the Wadh area of Khuzdar district, officials said on Friday.

The armed men of both sides, who maintained their positions in trenches during a few days of uneasy ceasefire, used mortar shells and rockets to attack each other.

“In the last four days, two people have been killed and three are injured, including a truck driver and a woman, who were hit by bullets during firing,” an official told Dawn over the phone.

Normal life has been badly affected due to clashes as markets, shops and even medical stores and clinics were closed in Wadh, causing great difficulties for the residents of the small town.

All schools, colleges, and government offices have been closed, while the Wadh Campus of Lasbela University has also been shut for an indefinite period due to the deteriorating law and order situation.

Officials say situation ‘worsening with each passing day’

Since the clashes broke out, traffic at the Khuzdar-Karachi national highway remained suspended for several hours each day.

It appears the administration and tribal elders have given up on the efforts to broker a ceasefire between the warring factions. Earlier, an ephemeral ceasefire was implemented following the efforts of Nawab Aslam Raisani, the chief of Sarawan tribes; his brother, ex-senator Haji Lashkri Raisani; and the local administration. Meanwhile, officials have said the situation in Wadh was worsening with every passing day.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2023