LAHORE: A member of the Ahmadi community was shot dead in a suspected sectarian attack on Thursday in Saddar area of Rahim Yar Khan district.
Basharat Ahmad, 62-year-old, was returning home in Green Town from a petrol pump situated at Zahir Pir Road when he was shot by unidentified attackers. He was rushed to the hospital but he could not survive the wounds. He had received two bullet wounds.
Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya spokesperson Saleemuddin claimed Ahmad was targeted because of his religious beliefs.
“Ahmad had no enmity and was gunned down because of the hate campaign against Ahmadis,” the spokesperson said. He further said security agencies should take stern action against hate mongers who propagate Ahmadi killings.
On the complaint of Ataul Quddoose, son-in-law of Ahmad, an FIR has been registered under section 302 of Pakistan Penal Code.
Ahmad is the fourth Ahmadi to have been killed in the province in the past five weeks.
On April 18, Professor Tahira Malik was killed at her residence in Punjab University, Lahore. On April 7 Dr Ashfaq Ahmad, 68 – a veterinary doctor and a PhD in food and nutrition – was on his way to an Ahmadi place of worship to offer prayers when he was targeted in Sabzazar area of Lahore.
On March 30, Advocate Malik Saleem Latif – a cousin of Nobel laureate Dr Abdus Salam – was gunned down in Nankana Sahib while he was going to the court with his son Malik Awais on a motorcycle.
