LAHORE: A gastroenterologist belonging to the Ahmadiyya community was shot dead in a private hospital he worked for by a gunman in the jurisdiction of Sajid Shaheed Police Station in Sargodha on Friday.

Dr Mahmood Sheikh, 58, was on the stairs when an unknown youth in sweeper’s outfit opened fire on him. Hit by several bullets, Dr Sheikh collapsed on the stairs. He was rushed to the DHQ Hospital where he died.

Crime scene unit and forensic experts collected evidence from the spot. Dr Sheikh was a philanthropist who had dedicated his life to healing wounds of poor patients.

Sargodha DPO Sohaib Ashraf who reached the crime scene told Dawn a suspected armed man targeted the senior doctor inside the hospital. He said as the doctor entered the hospital, the man opened fire, wounding him seriously at around 2:40pm. The attacker fled the scene.

To a question about the involvement of a religious outfit targeting the Ahmadiyya community, he said it would be premature to say anything.

“We have formed teams of experienced police officers to trace and arrest the killer,” he said. He said police were trying to get footage from security cameras of the hospital and those in the vicinity to identify the killer.

A police source said Dr Sheikh was also forced to quit his job due to pressure from a religious outfit but he continued serving the patients.

The deceased leaves behind a grieving mother, wife, two daughters and as many sons.

(Sajjad Niazi from Sargodha also contributed to this report)

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2025