RAWALPINDI: Two office-bearers of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) were killed in a targeted attack near the Ojri Camp in Shamsabad on Thursday night, police said.

Both members of the banned organisation were on their way to Saddar after attending a religious seminar when they were attacked by two unidentified motorcycle riders.

Nasir Abbasi, a key witness in the attack on Mufti Tanveer Alam, was on his way to Rawalpindi with Mufti Ishtiaq when the motorcyclists opened fire at them. Abbasi was killed on the spot while his companion was seriously injured.

The traffic police official on duty nearby arranged a private van to shift the victims to Benazir Bhutto Hospital. Mufti Ishtiaq was operated upon in the hospital but he eventually succumbed to injuries and passed away at the hospital.

“Today’s attack on ASWJ workers was in continuity of target killings in the twin cities, since some time,” said Mufti Tanveer Alam, ASWJ local leader.

“Right now, I would say it was target killing,” City Police Officer Humayun Bashir Tarar said, adding that the attackers would be traced soon.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2014