SUKKUR: Two elected local government representatives belonging to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) were assassinated and a third man was critically injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire at a tea shop in the Sukkur’s Chhohara Market.

The incident, which took place within the jurisdiction of the Rohri police station, has triggered a security clampdown. Police have registered a case against 14 suspects and arrested five men, recovering a Kalashnikov rifle and a pistol allegedly used in the ambush.

The deceased were identified as Manthar Mirani and Abdul Hafeez Mirani, hailing from the Bachal Shah and Khajoor Market areas. A third victim, Mansoor Mirani, remains in a critical condition at a taluka hospital.

Initial police inquiries suggest the targeted killings stem from a long-standing, volatile dispute between the Mirani and Lakhan communities. The feud had previously been settled twice through tribal councils (jirgas). However, senior officials stated that investigators are exploring all angles.

Addressing a press conference, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Khalid Memon confirmed that the First Information Report (FIR) was lodged on the complaint of Muhammad Aslam Mirani, the brother of the deceased Abdul Hafeez. The case names 14 members of the Lakhan community under murder charges.

Following the shooting, security forces tightened cordons around Village of Khanan Machhi, near Chhohara Market, to prevent retaliatory tribal violence. Police also reported that several houses and shops belonging to the accused were demolished during the operation, adding that the local law and order situation remains fully under control.

The Sukkur chapter of the PPP strongly condemned the incident, describing the attack on its elected public representatives as a “cowardly act” targeting both democratic values and the peace of the city.

The party has demanded that the Sindh provincial government and top police command ensure swift justice, severe punishment for the perpetrators and premium medical care for the surviving victim.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2026