Quetta, September 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A Balochi female folk singer from the Bugti tribe was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Dera Bugti district of Pakistan’s Balochistan province, local media reported on Thursday.
The deceased was identified as Mai Subhai Bugti, who was regarded as one of the first female singers from the Bugti tribe, according to Pakistani daily Dawn.
Police said unidentified motorcycle-borne attackers opened fire on Bugti on the outskirts of Dera Bugti before fleeing the scene. She sustained multiple gunshot injuries and died on the spot.
A case has been registered against unidentified attackers, while her body was taken to a hospital for medico-legal formalities.
A police official said this was reportedly the first time a female singer had been targeted in Dera Bugti. The motive behind the killing has not yet been established, with an investigation underway.
The killing comes amid continuing concerns over violence against women in Pakistan.
Last month, a 28-year-old content creator with more than 1.3 million followers was shot dead in Taxila, while her younger sister was seriously injured following the firing and a subsequent vehicle crash.
According to the FIR, the deceased, Shamsu Bibi, also known as Ayesha, was travelling in a vehicle with her sister Asmiya Bibi and brother Nematullah when unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire on them. Shamsu Bibi suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died inside the vehicle after the vehicle lost control and crashed, while her sister sustained serious injuries, The Express Tribune reported.
Her father told police that Shamsu Bibi had been active on TikTok for around three to four years and had approximately 1.3 million followers. He alleged that she had financial dealings with two individuals, Kausar and Javed, and had received death threats over demands for repayment of money.
The FIR also stated that a man identified as Kashi had called Shamsu Bibi and asked her to leave her home before the armed assailants allegedly targeted the vehicle.
Meanwhile, a report released in July by Islamabad-based organisation Sahil documented 3,172 cases of gender-based violence in Pakistan during the first six months of 2026, including 18 cases involving transgender persons.
According to the report, the cases included 644 murders, 514 incidents of torture, 462 abductions, 363 suicides, 280 rapes, 175 cases of injuries, 132 honour killings and 21 other offences, including harassment, gang rape and pornography-related cases.
The report stated that 334 victims were aged between 21 and 30 years, while 306 were aged between 11 and 20 and 120 between 31 and 40. The ages of victims were not recorded in 71 per cent of the reported cases, Dawn reported.
FOLLOW NOW
