Folk singer Mai Sobhayi, known as the first woman from the Bugti tribe to perform her music publicly, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Balochistan’s Dera Bugti district, according to local media reports.
The attackers opened fire on Sobhayi in the Dera Bugti area, killing her at the scene before escaping. Initial reports differed over the number of gunmen involved in the shooting.
Police said the motive for the killing remained unclear and investigators were examining the case from several angles. Efforts were under way to identify and arrest those responsible.
Sobhayi had gained recognition for breaking with established local conventions by performing folk music publicly, becoming a distinctive female voice from the Bugti community.
Her killing has also drawn attention to the difficulties faced by women working as public performers in conservative and tribal communities of Balochistan, where female artists can face considerable social pressures and restrictions.
Authorities have not yet announced any arrests or established whether Sobhayi’s work as a singer was connected to the killing.