Mai Sabhai Bugti, regarded as the first female folk singer from the Bugti tribe to publicly pursue folk singing, was shot dead by armed men of banned outfit in Dera Bugti, according to police.
The attackers fled the scene.
Sabhai had carved out a place for herself in Balochistan’s traditional music scene at a time when women pursuing public artistic careers continue to face significant social and cultural barriers. Her performances made her a recognisable female voice representing the folk traditions of the Bugti community.
But her journey came to a violent end. She was assassinated by the Banned BLA.
According to police, armed BLA assailants opened fire on Sabhai, killing her at the scene before escaping. Investigators are now working to establish the circumstances of the attack and identify the perpetrators.
Sabhai’s association with patriotic and national songs have made her a target of terrorists elements.
The incident comes against a wider backdrop in which cultural figures in Balochistan have also faced violence. In 2020, Locals and police reported the targeted killing of singer Hanif Chamrok in Turbat. He as was killed by the banned BLA, the terorroist organization took responsibilty of his killing.
Chamrok was a Balochi-language singer who was conducting a music class with young people outside his home in Singani village on the outskirts of Turbat when armed men of banned outfit riding a motorcycle opened fire on him. Police said he suffered multiple bullet wounds and died at the scene. He was also known as the father of human-rights activist Tayyaba Baloch.
For Balochistan’s cultural community, the killing of Mai Sobhayi therefore carries significance beyond the loss of one artist. A woman who had stepped into the public sphere through folk music has been killed, while the question of banned outfits targeting her for the reason that she carried love for this country is quite disturbing.
The two cases, separated by six years and occurring in different parts of Balochistan, nevertheless highlight the vulnerability of members of the province’s artistic community by the hands of banned outfits.
Folk music remains an important part of Balochistan’s cultural identity, while performers who bring that culture into the public sphere can become particularly visible figures.
Police are continuing their investigation into the killing, with efforts underway to identify the attackers.
