Ahmadiyya Muslim killed in apparent sectarian attack in Taunsa, Pakistan

Asia

An Ahmadi Muslim man has been shot dead by four attackers on a motorbike in Taunsa, a city in the south of Punjab province of Pakistan.

37 year old Ikramullah was in the pharmacy that he owned when four gunmen on motorbikes stormed the store and opened fire. Ikramullah was shot several times and one of the bullets went through his skull. 

He left behind his wife, and their two children, ages 18 months and 5 years.

The shooting comes after Punjab’s Muttahida Ulema Board (Council of Islamic Clerics) made the decision that literature against the persecuted Ahmadiyya Muslim Community does not fall under hate speech. The Muttehda Ulema Board (Council of Islamic Clerics) is part of Punjab’s Provincial Government which is headed by Governor Rafique Rajwana and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Ikramullah lived on the same street as the Ahmadiyya Mosque which was attacked by militants last month. The attackers were later caught by Police. Three of the attackers were eventually killed in a shootout after their accomplices tried to free them from Police custody.

Talking to BBC Urdu District Police Officer of Dera Gazi Khan Ghulam Mubashir Maken said:

Ikramullah had no personal enmity and neither did he have any questionable financial dealings, He was most probably targeted because he was a member of Qadiani (Ahmadiyya Muslim) community.

Following the incident Spokesperson of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Saleemuddin tweeted Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif regarding Muttahida Ulema Board’s (Council of Islamic Clerics) decision to allow hate material against the persecuted Ahmadiyya Muslims.