Summary
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community today mourns the death of Basharat Ahmed, a 62 year old Ahmadi Muslim who was shot dead on grounds of his faith.
The victim was intercepted by attackers outside a petrol pump on Zahir Pir Road whilst he was on his way home in Green Town. He was shot twice at close range and was left with significant gun shot wounds. The victim was left to die on the side of the road.
Basharat Ahmed was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. The elderly victim is survived by his wife and three children.
This murder marks the third of its kind within a period of 35 days. Malik Saleem Latif, a prominent Ahmadi lawyer was shot dead whilst on his way to court in Nankana District on 30 March 2017. Following this attack, on 7 April 2017, Dr. Ashfaq Ahmad a 68-year-old retired professor of the University of Veterinary Sciences in Lahore was also shot dead. All three murders show a clear trend of target killings against the Community with the use of a fire arm.
Background
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Pakistan is the only religious community to be targeted by the state simply on grounds of faith.
Perpetrators are given a free reign to attack, as they are well aware that they will not be prosecuted for their actions. Hundreds of Ahmadis have been murdered and the target killing of Ahmadis continues with impunity.
In Pakistan, Ahmadis cannot call themselves Muslims and are prohibited by law to vote as Muslims. Ahmadis are openly declared ‘wajibul qatl’ (deserving to be killed) with neither the state nor civic society willing to stand up for Ahmadis and against the extremists.