An Ahmadi man was shot dead while heading to a place of worship in Punjab, with police investigating the killing as a suspected targeted attack linked to faith.
WEBDESK - NAYADAUR - Imran Malik
A 65-year-old member of Pakistan’s Ahmadi community was shot dead by an unidentified gunman in Mandi Bahauddin district of Punjab while he was on his way to offer prayers, police said, in an attack that community representatives described as faith-motivated.
The killing took place on Wednesday evening near Kot Ahmad Shah, according to reports and statements from the Ahmadi community. Police said the victim, identified as Mirza Safdar Mahmood, appeared to have been deliberately targeted, although investigators were examining the circumstances of the attack and working to identify the assailant.
According to the first information report, Mahmood had left his auto workshop and was travelling toward Bait-ul-Zikr, an Ahmadi place of worship, when an unidentified gunman opened fire outside the worship site. He died at the scene.
Police said the attacker fled after the shooting.
The incident occurred in Mandi Bahauddin district, about 240 kilometres from Lahore. Investigators collected evidence from the crime scene and began reviewing available CCTV footage in an effort to identify and arrest the suspect.
Police officer Kalbe Ali said the initial investigation suggested the killing could have been connected to Mahmood's faith because there appeared to be no known personal enmity involving the victim. Police were nevertheless investigating the case from all possible angles.
The killing has prompted renewed concern among representatives of Pakistan's Ahmadi community, who say members of the group continue to face threats, hate campaigns and attacks because of their religious identity.
Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan condemned Mahmood's killing and called for those responsible to be brought to justice.
Community spokesperson Amir Mahmood said authorities needed to take firm action against people who encourage violence and hatred against Ahmadis.
He also alleged that anti-Ahmadi campaigns had been conducted continuously in Mandi Bahauddin and that some clerics had issued threats against members of the community.
The allegations about specific threats and hate campaigns were made by community representatives and had not been independently verified.
The killing comes against a backdrop of longstanding restrictions and discrimination faced by Ahmadis in Pakistan. The community was constitutionally declared non-Muslim in 1974, and legislation introduced a decade later placed further restrictions on how Ahmadis could identify themselves and practise their faith publicly.
Ahmadis are prohibited under Pakistani law from describing themselves as Muslims or using certain Islamic terminology and practices. Rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about violence, discrimination and restrictions affecting the community.
For Mahmood's family and fellow community members, the circumstances of his death have intensified those concerns.
According to the account given to police, Mahmood had been travelling from his workshop to his community's place of worship when he was attacked. The location of the shooting has also raised questions about security, as the attack reportedly occurred close to police facilities.
Authorities have not publicly announced an arrest in connection with the killing at the time of publication.
Police are expected to rely on CCTV recordings and other forensic evidence gathered from the scene as the investigation progresses. Investigators have not publicly identified a motive as conclusively established, although police have said the circumstances indicate a targeted attack and are examining a possible connection to Mahmood's faith.
The Ahmadi community has urged the authorities to ensure a transparent investigation and prosecute those responsible.
The case also adds to a broader pattern of concern over violence against religious minorities in Pakistan, where rights advocates have repeatedly called for stronger protection for vulnerable communities and accountability for perpetrators.
While community representatives have described Mahmood's killing as a faith-based attack, the final motive will depend on the findings of the police investigation and any subsequent court proceedings.
No group has publicly claimed responsibility for the shooting.