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Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Ahmadi leader shot dead in Ferozewala

* Victim’s son claims police took no action despite being intimated about threats

By Rana Tanveer

LAHORE: An Ahmadi leader was gunned down allegedly for seeking police protection against sectarian zealots in Ferozewala police precincts on Tuesday.

The family of 70-year-old victim Muhammad Yousaf — leader of the Ahmadi community in Ferozwala — alleged that extremists killed him for demanding police to stop them from creating religious strife in the area. Earlier, extremists had gathered together, carrying placards and signboards bearing slogans against the Ahmadis.

Ferozewala Police Station House Officer (SHO) Muhammad Munir told Daily Times that police had registered the first information report (FIR) against unidentified persons for Yousaf’s murder. Although no one had been arrested so far, the murderers would be brought to justice, he added.

According to complainant Fatehul Deen — son of the deceased — two armed assailants on a motorbike sprayed bullets at his father around 8am when he was sitting at his general store, where he (Fateh) and his brother were also present. He said his father died instantly while he and his brother narrowly escaped the attack.

No action: Fateh alleged that the assailants were the henchmen of local religious leader Muhammad Ahmed Faridi. He alleged that two men — Inamullah and Shaukat — were also involved in his father’s murder.

Fateh said that on December 29, Faridi erected a huge signboard at the main roundabout in Ferozewala Bazaar, which bore slogans provoking people against the Ahmadis. He said the accused also made phone calls to him and other Ahmadis in the area, threatening them to leave the area or else face dire consequences. Fateh said despite being intimated about these threats, police took no action against the accused that had resulted in his father’s death.

Source:   www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp? page=2010\01\06\story_6-1-2010_pg7_5