QUETTA, April 30: An independent candidate, along with his two associates, was shot dead in the Jhal Magsi area on Tuesday.

Levies sources said that armed men opened fire on Abdul Fateh Magsi, a candidate for PB 32 (Jhal Magsi), when he was campaigning in Goth Shanmbani.

Mr Magsi’s security guards retaliated and a heavy exchange of fire continued for about half an hour.

Levies officials said all three persons died on the spot while two others received bullet injuries.

The other two dead were identified as Jani Khan and Meharullah Khan Magsi and the injured as Wazir Khan and Arbeelah.

But other sources claimed that unknown armed men opened fire on Mr Magsi when he was taking out a procession.

“Heavy weapons were used in the gun battle from both sides,” Deputy Commissioner Saeed Jamali said.

He claimed that Mr Magsi and his two associates were killed in crossfire and Levies had recovered a huge quantity of illegal arms and ammunition from their possession.

He said that Mr Magsi’s security guards fired three rockets.

According to Mr Magsi’s supporters, they were attacked during their door-to-door election campaign.

The family of Mr Magsi has claimed that he and his two friends were kidnapped on Monday night and their bodies were dumped in a deserted area on Tuesday morning.

But Levies and district administration said they were killed during the exchange of fire.

“We are investigating the incident,” Levies officials said, adding that heavy contingents of security forces had been deployed because the situation was tense in the area.

The Election Commission of Pakistan postponed the election in PB 32 Jhal Magsi.