Two Pak Ahmadi men killed in hate crimes

Two members of Pakistan's minority Ahmadi community were shot dead on Saturday, allegedly by members of a radical Islamist group in Punjab province, police reported.

 

The victims, Ghulam Sarwar, 62, and Rahat Ahmad Bajwa, 30, were attacked in separate incidents in the Mandi Bahauddin district, approximately 250 km from Lahore.

 

Ghulam Sarwar was returning home after attending Zuhr (afternoon) prayers at an Ahmadiyya place of worship when an unidentified assailant shot him, resulting in his immediate death, police said.

 

In another incident, Rahat Bajwa was on his way home from his catering business when a 17-year-old seminary student opened fire on him, killing him instantly.

 

The police arrested the teenage assailant, identified as Syed Ali Raza, who confessed to the crime, stating he killed Bajwa due to his faith.

 

The perpetrator was a student at a seminary associated with the TLP, authorities confirmed.