LAHORE: Two suspects were arrested on charge of killing an Ahmadi man and injuring another in Kasur on Friday.

In the first information report (FIR) lodged with the Saddar Phoolnagar Police Station, the complainant said five persons opened fire at his son and nephew. His nephew died while being shifted to hospital while his son was injured and referred to Lahore for treatment.

Kasur District Police Officer Essa Khan told Dawn that two out of five nominated suspects had been arrested while raids were being conducted to arrest others. He said one suspect was a member of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) who had tried to use religious sentiments to settle personal scores in an incident in 2022. The current incident, however, occurred due to personal enmity.

A statement from a spokesperson of the Ahmadiyya community, Aamir Mahmood, claimed that the extremists opened fire in Bhalir Kasur, killing a youth named Muhammad Asif, 19, while another person was seriously injured. The statement added that a campaign against the Ahmadiyya place of worship had been going on in the area for a long time and harassment was reported.

Police say ‘personal enmity’ was the cause of the incident

“Extremist elements had been harassing Ahmadis in various ways in the Bhalir area of Kasur district for the last two years,” the statement alleged, adding that a campaign was launched against their place of worship and demands were made to dismantle it.

“Direct firing had been carried out twice before yesterday’s incident, which damaged the walls of many houses,” it added.

Expressing concerns at the increasing incidents of violence against his community members, Mahmood demanded the higher authorities protect the Ahmadis as per the law.

“While protecting Ahmadis according to the law, those who are carrying out hate campaigns should be brought to justice,” the spokesperson said, according to the statement.

Last month, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said it had observed a growing trend of mob-led attacks on the homes of families belonging to religious minorities, as well as their places of worship.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2025