In a tragic incident on Saturday, two members of the Ahmadi community were killed by a teenager in Mandi Bahauddin’s Saddullapur area. The victims, identified as a 50-year-old and a 25-year-old, were attacked while returning from prayers and heading to the market, respectively.
Local police quickly apprehended the primary suspect, recovering the firearm believed to have been used in the shootings. District Police Officer (DPO) of Mandi Bahauddin confirmed the arrest and ongoing investigation into the incident.
Social media erupted with condemnation, with many calling for an end to violence against minorities in Pakistan. Journalist Bilal Farooqi shared the victims’ identities and reported that the accused, a madrassa student, admitted to targeting them because of their faith.
“Two Ahmadis, Ghulam Sarwar, 62, & Rahat Ahmad Bajwa, 30, were murdered simply for their beliefs. When will this madness end?” Farooqi tweeted.
Rehana Khan highlighted the attack as a “moment of shame for Pakistan,” emphasizing the context of rising anti-Ahmadi sentiment in parts of the country.
Additionally, Sabookh Syed’s thread on X (formerly Twitter) provided video evidence of local Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) leaders inciting violence against Ahmadis, further underscoring the dangerous climate for minorities.
Punjab’s Inspector General Usman Anwar vowed to deliver justice, stating, “We will ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”
This incident adds to a troubling history of violence against Pakistan’s Ahmadi community, including recent attacks and murders. Earlier this year, the head of the Ahmadiyya community in Bahawalpur was also killed, and in March, police arrested suspects in another fatal attack on an Ahmadi man.