Seven killed in family feud in Pakistan

The attackers broke into the house of a farmer in Sheikhpura town and opened fire on the family members when they were asleep.

Seven members of a family, including two women and three children, were shot dead early on Monday by armed assailants belonging to a rival clan in a remote village in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province.

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The attackers broke into the house of a farmer in Sheikhpura town, some 240 kilometres from here, at 5 am and opened fire on the family members when they were asleep, a police officer, Hassan Farooq Ghumman said.

Eight assailants, including a woman, have been arrested and weapons recovered from their possession, he said.

The killings were the result of an old enmity between the local Arain and Mochi families, the official said.

Those killed included head of the family Allah Ditta, 40, his wife, his mother, two sons, and two daughters. The sons and daughters were aged between three and 11 years.

The injured were shifted to Lahore for treatment.

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has called for a detailed report on the incident within 24 hours.