Two unidentified gunmen attacked an Ahmadi dentist named Zaka-ur-Rehman, 53, at his clinic in Lala Musa, Gujrat on Saturday, making him the fourth Ahmadi man killed for his faith this year in Pakistan.
Dr Zaka was also the leader for the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya in Lala Musa, making his religious affiliation publicly known. He was at his clinic when two unidentified men on a motorbike attempted the attack on his life. One of the gunmen entered the clinic and fired bullets at Dr. Zaka. The bullets hit the Ahmadi doctor’s heart, stomach, and arm, due to which he died at the spot, as per a statement issued by the press office of the Ahmadiyya community. The attackers managed to flee from the scene.
Dr. Zaka is survived by his wife, three daughters, and a son. While condemning the killing of Dr. Zaka, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan Spokesperson Amir Mehmood said that on June 8, 2024, two Ahmadis named Ghulam Sarwar and Rahat Ahmad Bajwa were killed in Mandi Bahauddin, and on March 4, 2024, another man named Tahir Iqbal was killed for being Ahmadi. The Community maintains that the hate mongering campaign against Ahmadis has intensified following bail granted to an Ahmadi man by the apex court. He said that even judges of superior courts are being targeted through this campaign. He is also the second Ahmadi faith leader target killed this year, the first was Tahir Iqbal.
On July 25, a group of independent experts affiliated with the United Nations had urged the Pakistan government to curb violence targeting the Ahmadiyya, and bring an end to judicial harassment and discrimination against the group. Earlier this year, the National Commission of Human Rights, an autonomous government affiliated body had designated the Ahmadiyya a group in urgent need of immediate protection from the Pakistan state, and had recommended an oversight mechanism to be set-up for their protection. The NCHR had emphasised that perpetrators of incitement to violence directed at the persecuted group must be held to account.