ISLAMABAD: A senior member of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) was gunned down in the suburbs of Islamabad on Monday, police said.

Maulana Ilyas Khan was targeted when he was travelling in his car after leading Isha prayer in Jamia Masjid Hasnain located in Soan Garden. Multiple gunshots caught the attention of the people, who rushed to the crime scene and found him dead in the car.

A police team reached the spot and shifted the body to the hospital. Police said the victim was reportedly affiliated with the ASWJ, but did not hold any position in the party.

The killer(s) targeted him with 9mm pistol(s) and later escaped.

“Circumstantial evidence suggested that the attackers were two who escaped on a motorcycle,” he added.

“Unfortunately there is no eyewitness in the incident available so far,” he added.

An activist of the ASWJ told Dawn that Maulana Ilyas was a senior member of the party but did not hold any office in the party.

Two to three persons guarded him during his movement, but there was no information about them whether they were accompanying him at the time of the incident or not, he added.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2015

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