The field has come under attack since 7 January from local tribesman and a separatist group known as the Baluchistan Liberation Army. The Sui field is the country’s largest and is located 550 km southwest of Karachi.

In a statement to the media PPL announced the field was shutdown on Tuesday 11 January following an attack on the field which damaged some gas pipelines and caused a gas leakage. According to an unidentified senior PPL official, the shutdown would cause disruptions to the supply of gas to gas to fertiliser factories and gas-fired power plants all over the country.

A Reuters report said armed tribesmen stormed the field, overpowered military guards and damaged pipelines and a purification plant. Two watch towers were also seized and, an anonymous local police official, stated, “The compressor of the plant and several pipelines have caught fire.”

According to the police insider two military guards were killed in the attack, as were two civilians (one of whom was a child) caught in the crossfire. Five guards were wounded.

A statement from the Pakistani military public relations department indicated paramilitary troops were sent in, drove out “the militants” and have taken control of the field and its facilities.

“The PPL authorities have temporarily shut the gas supply in order to avert more damage,” added the statement.