Two members of the Ahmadi community were shot dead by a teenager in Mandi Bahauddin on Saturday. The primary suspect was arrested soon after, along with the alleged murder weapon.
The victims were a 50-year-old man and a 25-year-old man, as per Dawn. While the former was on his way back from offering prayers, the latter was on his way to the market when they were shot dead in the Saddullapur area of Phalia Police Circle.
District Police Officer (DPO) of Mandi Bahauddin confirmed to Dawn that the main killer who was involved in both shootings was arrested along with the weapon used in the murder from Saadullahpur.
Social media users are condemning the incident and asking the government to put an end to violence against minorities in Pakistan.
Journalist Bilal Farooqi posted, “Two Ahmadis, Ghulam Sarwar, 62, & Rahat Ahmad Bajwa, 30, shot dead in Saadullah Pur, Mandi Bahauddin. The alleged killer, a madrassa student, was arrested and confessed he killed them because of their faith. When will this madness end? Please stop!”
Netizen Rehana Khan posted the details with the caption, “A moment of shame for Pakistan.”
Sabookh Syed posted a thread on X, showing video proofs of local TLP leadership threatening the Ahmadi community to not carry out Qurbani on Eid like Muslims or they will bear the consequences. “This horrific incident is further alarming given the public incitement by TLP leaders, who have openly called for violence against Ahmadis.”
Meanwhile, Inspector General Punjab Usman Anwar pledged to bring all culprits before law. “Ensuring justice for the bereaved families will be a priority,” he said.
Over the last few decades, Pakistan’s minority communities have borne the brunt of mob brutality, bomb attacks, arsons, lynchings and other forms of violence.
Earlier this year, the president of the Ahmadiyya community in Bahawalpur’s Hasilpur district was shot dead by unknown assailants last month.
In March, police said they had arrested two suspected killers of a man belonging to the Ahmadiyya community.
