https://arab.news/p2pyu
- Police say they are using CCTV cameras to trace out suspects who shot Maulana Masood-ur-Rehman Usmani
- No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, though Pakistan has history of religious and political violence
ISLAMABAD: Police in Pakistan’s federal capital confirmed a shooting incident on the outskirts of the city on Friday, saying it led to the killing of Maulana Masood-ur-Rehman Usmani, a religious cleric, whose vehicle was targeted by unknown gunmen.
Local media outlets identified Usmani as the central deputy general secretary of the Sunni Ulema Council. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack which targeted the cleric in his vehicle at a local housing society.
Pakistan has a history of religious and sectarian violence. The country has also seen a surge in violence ahead of the general elections scheduled to take place on February 8.
“There was firing on a vehicle in the Ghauri Town area of the Khanna Police Station,” the law enforcement agency said in a social media post. “One person was killed and one was injured in the firing. The deceased person was identified as Maulana Masood-ur-Rehman Usmani.”
Usmani was rushed to a nearby hospital along with his injured driver, though he could not survive the attack.
“Heavy police force is present at the spot [where the incident took place],” the Islamabad Police added in the post. “The suspects are being traced with the help of CCTV cameras. Soon they will be arrested and brought to justice.”