5 killed in Pakistan tribal court firing (Lead)

Islamabad : At least five people were killed and three others injured on Tuesday in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa district in firing at a Jirga - a tribal court - convened over a motorbike accident.

The police said the incident in Battagram district happened when a verbal clash between two groups turned ugly and members of one group opened fire at the other, Xinhua news agency reported. The attackers fled the scene.

Jirga or tribal court is a council which is responsible for settling disputes in tribal areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The council makes decisions by consensus and according to the teachings of Pashtunwali.