A member of the Ahmadi community has been shot dead by two unidentified men on Main Eidgah Road in Mandi Bahauddin on Wednesday evening, with police suspecting that the victim was deliberately targeted.
The shooting took place at around 6:30pm within the limits of City police station, according to Station House Officer (SHO) Saleem Bakhsh. The location was near the central Eidgah and a few metres from the office of the deputy superintendent of police (DSP), Saddar Circle.
Police identified the victim in the initial report as a resident of Lalazar, Mandi Bahauddin. DSP Saddar Circle Mandi Bahauddin Rana Jameel Ahmed confirmed that he belonged to the Ahmadi community.
Police said that the victim had closed his workshop and was on his way home when two unidentified men allegedly began following him. The men opened fire when he reached the main road near the central Eidgah.
The victim sustained gunshot wounds and died at the scene, while the attackers fled after the shooting.
City police station SHO Tarar arrived at the location with police personnel after receiving information about the incident. Officers collected evidence from the scene as the investigation began, while personnel from other law enforcement agencies were also present.
Police took the body into custody and began the required legal formalities.
District Police Officer (DPO) Mandi Bahauddin Lieutenant (retd) Kamran Amir Khan said that the initial findings pointed towards a targeted killing. He said the victim appeared to have been selected deliberately and that the attack was planned.
The DPO said that investigators were examining the case from all possible angles and were working to identify the people involved and arrest them.
Police were using material gathered from the crime scene along with other available information to trace the suspects, according to the DPO.
Officials said that the police would register a case and begin further legal proceedings once the victim’s heirs submitted an application.
At the time the report was filed, the body remained at the scene. Police had cordoned off both sides of the road while the investigation continued.
