Police in northwestern Pakistan have launched a manhunt for suspects, including a Muslim professor, accused of killing a colleague from the minority Ahmadiyya sect following arguments on religion, officials said.
On Monday, two men in Peshawar city shot dead Naeemuddin Khattak, who held a doctorate in zoology and was a teacher at a college, police officer Ashoor Khan told the dpa news agency on Tuesday.
Khattak’s brother told police a Muslim professor from another college with whom the 56-year-old victim had heated arguments on religion shot him, Khan said.
“We are raiding possible hideouts to arrest the suspect,” the police officer said.
The incident occurred two months after a Pakistani-American man who belonged to the Ahmadiyya sect was shot dead inside a court during his trial under Pakistan’s blasphemy law.
The US State Department criticised the killing, urging Pakistan to repeal such laws to prevent crimes triggered by religious hatred.
Pakistan’s four million-strong Ahmadiyya group has faced death, intimidation and a sustained hate campaign for decades.
Ahmadis insist they follow Islam. However, Pakistan declared the group non-Muslim in 1974 for regarding their sect’s founder, Ghulam Ahmad, as a prophet. Orthodox Islam holds Muhammad was its last prophet.
More than 260 members of the sect have been killed in gun or bomb attacks since 1984 when the sectarian violence started in Pakistan, according to statistics compiled by the community.
Latest Stories
- Domelevo yet to receive emoluments nearly 3 years after being ‘forced out’
10 mins - Debt exchange: I don’t want to believe there are conmen in government – Carbonu on pensions
10 mins - Hubtel wins big at Ghana Fintech Awards 2022
20 mins - ‘Kamaldeen feels he can help Southampton immediately’ – Nathan Jones
20 mins - Fire kills mother, 2 daughters at Abuakwa
20 mins - 34 women arrested for prostitution in Tema, each granted GHs5k bail each
23 mins - Ex-soldier sues government, colleagues over sexual abuse
26 mins - aYo insurance covers over 8 million Ghanaians in 5 years
34 mins - Every Premier League signing and sale made in the January 2023 transfer window
36 mins - Southampton confirm signing of Black Stars winger Kamaldeen Sulemana
44 mins - Husband tells wife to pay him 30% of her salary for using their home office to work
47 mins - Ukraine deserves to join Nato, says new Czech leader
53 mins - CHAN 2022: Senegal see off Madagascar to set up final with Algeria
1 hour - Sex and no sleep may be killing endangered quolls – Research
1 hour - Tobe Nwigwe names Stonebwoy, Burna Boy, others as musicians he hopes to work with
1 hour