Armed men set fire to dozens of houses in Jacobabad, after a couple from the village married by choice at a court in Hyderabad, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.
The couple, 14-year-old girl Sidra of Channa community married Muhammad Hassan Burro of Mirpur area, fled their village after the situation took an ugly turn.
Both communities were up against arms 10 days after the lover marriage with groom’s family vacated their homes and shifted to some undisclosed location.
Senior Superintendent of Police Jacobabad Faizan Ali told reporters that preliminary investigation pointed to the arson being carried out in retaliation for the lover marriage.
The accused also opened fire with weapons as they torched the homes in Muhammad Siddique Arain village.
Police raided multiple locations and picked up five suspects. A case has been registered against 12 named and 20 unidentified accused under anti-terrorism provisions.
An investigation team has been formed to track down and arrest the remaining suspects.
Families displaced by the attack have spent days living in the open with no shelter, amid intense heat.
Reporter Saddam Chandio