A dispute over the rental of a vacant shop in Kili Qadirabad, Nushki, in Pakistan’s Balochistan province escalated into an armed confrontation on Monday morning, leaving four people dead, including three brothers, according to police.

Authorities said the argument between two parties over shop tenancy turned violent, resulting in the deaths of Babu Alam Khan, Babarg Khan, and Zulqarnain Khan, all sons of Dinar Khan Badini. A fourth man, Sohail Ahmed, son of Muhammad Ayub Badini and a member of the opposing group, was also killed during the exchange of gunfire.

Local residents reported that both groups were close relatives belonging to the same tribe and that the dispute had been ongoing for some time. The shooting caused widespread panic in the area, forcing many residents to remain indoors for several hours.

Police arrived at the scene shortly after the incident was reported, secured the area, and transported the bodies to a hospital for post-mortem examinations. A senior police official said criminal cases would be registered against both sides, and raids were underway to arrest those involved.

Additional security personnel were deployed to prevent further violence. Members of a local tribal council also intervened, urging restraint and planning a peace jirga to help resolve the long-standing dispute alongside legal proceedings.

Residents expressed grief over the killings and called on authorities to take stronger measures to prevent tribal and property-related disputes from escalating into violence.