July 27, 2024
By Xari Jalil
LAHORE
A member of the minority Ahmadi community Dr. Zakaur Rahman of Lala Musa, District Gujrat, was targeted and killed on Saturday in his dental clinic.
Ahmadi community representatives have condemned the incident saying that there has been intense propaganda against Ahmadis this year where several attacks have claimed lives and also resulted in the desecration of their worship places. They expressed outrage and disappointment over lack of government action against elements who spread hatred and incite violence against the community.
According to details, Dr. Zakaur Rahman was killed in his clinic, Zaka Dental Clinic, GT Road, Lala Musa, District Gujrat when two unknown motorcycle riders came outside his clinic. One person entered the clinic and opened fire on the doctor who was hit by three bullets on his heart, stomach and arm, as a result of which he died on the spot. The killers fled from the spot. The deceased was around 53 years of age.
Dr Zaka was a local official of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya. Those who know him say he had no dispute with anyone. Apart from his wife, he is survived by one son and three daughters.
Threats
Local from Gujrat, M* told Voicepk that it was a shame that the police had done nothing to protect the doctor who had already been under threat. “He had been receiving threats since the time of Eid, and he was feeling scared about it,” said M. “After we discussed the issue I advised him to go into hiding for some time. For two months the doctor remained underground, but what can we do? A man has to eventually go back to the same world. How long can he stay hidden.”
The local said that it was disappointing that the police knew of these developments since some time and even though the doctor’s clinic was situated at a busy road, the police was unable to do anything to stop the incident from happening.
Meanwhile, spokesperson of the Pakistan Ahmadiyya community Amir Mehmood has strongly condemned the brutal killing of the dentist adding that two Ahmadis, Ghulam Sarwar and Rahat Ahmad Bajwa were killed prior to this in village Saadullahpur, District Mandi Bahauddin on June 8 and in District Hasilpur on March 4. Before this local leader of the Ahmadi community in Multan, Tahir Iqbal Cheema was shot dead.
The attack has come after the Supreme Court’s recent decision to grant bail to Mubarak Sani, an Ahmadi man, the ongoing hate campaign against Ahmadis has intensified. The judges of high courts too have been subjected to the campaign.
“Why doesn’t the government take action against such elements according to the law?” questioned Amir Mehmood. “If those who preach hatred and violence are apprehended, then such incidents can be stopped.”
He demanded that the killers be instantly arrested and punished according to the law. Sources also informed that the area police was initially not filing the FIR, saying that they did not want to identify the victim as an Ahmadi. Later, at the end of the day, however an FIR was filed.