Chaos erupted in a public rally organised by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Nafisa Shah in Kherpur on Sunday evening when two rival political groups turned the public meeting into a battlefield, killing at least seven people in the crossfire. The dead include a local journalist and a college professor who were attending the rally. Ten people were also reported to have received serious wounds in the shootout. Nafisa, the daughter of Sindh Chief Minsiter Qaim Ali Shah, is reported to be safe and sound. Nafisa is a member of the National Assembly and a former mayor of Khairpur district. According to reports by private TV channels, the shooting started when Nafeesa was preparing to deliver her speech. Citing its sources, Geo News reported that the rally had been organised by Kherpur Town Municipal Authority (TMA) at Saddo Janori Goth. However, crossfire between two rival groups of Janori tribe caused mayhem, resulting in the deaths of seven people. After the incident, a heavy contingent of police cordoned off the area, while the dead and the injured were rushed to hospital. Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah strongly condemned the violent act, and sought an immediate report from the Sindh inspector general of police (IGP) and the commissioner of Sukkur. The chief minister also ordered the Sindh Health Department officials to provide immediate medical care to those who were injured in the shooting. Meanwhile, the PPP has declared a day of mourning on Monday.
