ISLAMABAD: Gunmen in northwest Pakistan have shot dead a retired air force official who was a member of the country’s Ahmadi minority, police said Thursday, bringing to seven the number of people killed in violence against the persecuted community this year.
The incident took place in Attock district, around 40 miles (64 kilometres) north of the capital Islamabad on Wednesday, a spokesman for the community said.
“Latif Aalam Butt, a well-known Ahmadi was killed outside his house in Kamra, district Attock. He was returning home from his stationery store, when unknown assailants repeatedly fired at him,” Saleem ud Din said.
Local police also confirmed the incident, adding that Butt was 62. It was not immediately clear what role he had served in the air force.
“The victim’s son filed an application here at the police station today,” local police official Qasim Ali told AFP.
“According to his son’s account, the victim owned a stationery shop in Saddar market and was returning home from his shop during the incident.”
Butt’s neighbour reported the incident and he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the local hospital, Ali quoted the son as saying.
