PESHAWAR: A professor belonging to the Ahmadiya community was shot dead allegedly over his religious beliefs in Peshawar on Monday.
According to police, a 57-year-old Prof Dr Naeemuddin Khattak was driving his car and his brother was on his motorcycle. While they were passing through the Wazir Bagh area at around 1:30 pm, two men riding a motorcycle stopped the professor’s car, opened fire on him and fled.
Police sources further said the professor received five bullets and died on the spot. Soon after the incident police reached the scene and shifted the body to the hospital for medico-legal formalities.
The deceased Prof Dr Naeemuddin Khattak was a faculty member at the Government Superior Science College Peshawar.
Bhana Mari police, in whose limits the incident took place, registered a first information report (FIR) on the complaint of the deceased’s brother.
The complainant nominated a friend of the deceased who is a lecturer at the University of Agriculture, Peshawar, and another man as suspects behind the murder.
According to the FIR, Naeemuddin and his alleged killer (the lecturer) had a heated argument over a religious issue a day earlier.
Police identified the suspects based on eyewitness testimony and claimed to be making efforts for their arrest.
Naeemuddin, whose death coincided with International Teachers Day being observed today, held a PhD degree in zoology, according to the Anjuman Ahmadiyya Pakistan.
In a statement, Jamaat-i-Ahmadiyya Pakistan spokesperson Saleemuddin said Naeemuddin was targeted due to his Ahmadi faith, adding that the deceased had previously been facing “threats and boycott”. The professor has left behind a widow, two sons and three daughters.
“Over the past few months, there has been an increase in faith-based attacks on Ahmadis,” Saleemuddin said. “In Peshawar, an organized hate campaign has been launched against Ahmadis which has resulted in the killing of Ahmadis,” he added.
“The government has failed in providing protection to Ahmadis,” he added, urging state institutions to take steps for the community’s protection.
Meanwhile, National Assembly member and politician from South Waziristan, Ali Wazir said, “Today is the Teacher day and on the same day Pashtun land received the dead body of their teacher today in Peshawar Prof: Dr Naeem Khattak has been targeted and killed”.
“We condemn such barbarism Remember that he is the brother of Adov: Shahab Khattak Shab #StateKilledProfNaeemKhattak,” he tweeted.
Today is the Teacher day and on same day Pashtun land received the dead body of their teacher
Today in Peshawar Prof: Dr Naeem khattak has been targeted and killed
We condemn such barbarism
Remember that he is the brother of Adov: Shahab Khattak Shab#StateKilledProfNaeemKhattak pic.twitter.com/Agw929BEjT— Ali Wazir (@Aliwazirna50) October 5, 2020
