LARKANA: A 42-year-old man was shot dead by armed assailants on the outskirts of Naudero on Tuesday in what his family claims to be a targeted killing linked to a pending criminal case in court.

The gunmen riding two motorcycles opened fire on Niaz Khakrani, a resident of the village of Maddah Khakrani on the outskirts of Naudero, and killed him on the spot.

According to initial reports, Niaz had travelled a short distance from his village to the neighboring settlement of Bhumbhatpur to purchase ice when his motorcycle got a flat tyre. While he was getting the tyre repaired at roadside shop, the armed riders on two motorcycles attacked him, fired multiple rounds and fled.

Police reached the scene and shifted the body to a Naudero hospital for a post-mortem examination. The victim, who was employed as a watchman in the education department, is survived by three sons and two daughters.

Speaking to journalists, the victim’s older brother, Gada Hussain Khakrani, alleged that he was killed in revenge.

He stated that in 2022, his brother, Police Constable Sada Hussain Khakrani, was killed in the line of duty during a police encounter with criminals, for which suspects Asad Khakrani, Barkat Khakrani, and others were named in the case.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2026