DERA GHAZI KHAN: Two persons died and four others were critically injured, allegedly when robbers opened indiscriminate fire in a bid to secure release of a suspect, who had been caught by locals during a motorcycle snatching attempt on the Dera-Quetta road near Lakh Data Hotel.

As per police sources, some robbers attempted to snatch a motorcycle from a man on the Dera-Quetta road near Lakh Data Hotel, where locals intervened and overpowered one of the suspects, while the others fled away.

However, the sources say, that the armed robbers returned shortly after the capture of their accomplice, opened indiscriminate fire on the locals. They escaped on motorcycles after freeing their accomplice.

As per officials, the Rescue 1122 teams, arriving at the scene on being informed of the incident, found a man, later identified as Shafiq (35), son of Wazeer Ahmed, dead on the spot.

Four others injured by brash criminals, who escaped unchallenged

His body was shifted to the Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital in DG Khan.The rescuers provided first aid to the injured before transferring them to the hospital.

As per rescuers, Shafiq sustained a fatal bullet wound to his abdomen.

One of the injured men, Mansoor Ahmed, who suffered a bullet wound to the left side of the chest, later died at the hospital.

The injured include Adnan (29), Majeed, his brother Abdul Rasheed, both sons of Wazeer Ahmad, and Ashraf (27).

All the injured and the dead persons were related to each other and resided in Basti Gamuli in Kot Chhutta tehsil of DG Khan district.

Locals say armed robberies have alarmingly increased in the urban as well as rural areas of the district, leaving them insecure.

They say that incidents of motorcycle snatching at gunpoint are occurring on an almost daily basis, and the district police have so far failed to curb such crimes.

They appealed to police high-ups to take notice of the deteriorating law and order in the district.

District Police Officer Sadiq Baluch told Dawn that gangs from tribal areas might be involved in the recent wave of robberies in the district.

He added that the district police, in coordination with the Border Military Police (BMP), are preparing to launch an operation against these armed gangs to restore law and order in the district.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2026