The security guard of a bank shot dead its manager, alleging that the latter had committed blasphemy.
Police sources and a government official said the blasphemy accusation was fabricated and the murder had been based on personal enmity.
However the incident took place in Khushab’s Tehsil Quaidabad on Wednesday; where Ahmad Nawaz, a security guard posted at a bank branch, shot and fatally injured the National Bank of Pakistan official Muhammad Imran Hanif.
Hanif rushed to a hospital for treatment of his gunshot wounds, but eventually succumbed to them, police sources said.
Nawaz said he had opened fire as Hanif allegedly committed blasphemy.
However, police sources said the two had actually involved in a verbal argument for the past couple of days, which had turned sour after they could not reconcile their differences.
Eventually police arrived at the scene after informed of the killing and took Nawaz into custody. As the security guard took into custody, a large number of people came out and chanted slogans in his favor.
Maulana Tahir Ashrafi condemns killing
Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) chairman and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Religious Harmony Dr. Tahir Ashrafi condemned the bank official’s murder, saying that the security guard had murdered the victim solely due to issues that stemmed from personal enmity.
“This is an extremely disappointing incident,” said the prime minister’s aide in a video message.
“The entire religious leadership of the country condemns this and Insha’Allah. The Government of Pakistan will take action against all such culprits who take the name of our religion. Our deen and (under the garb of) respect of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to satisfy their personal enmity or madness,” he said.
Earlier this month, Macron described Islam as a religion “in crisis.” He announced plans for tougher laws. To tackle what he called “Islamist separatism” in France.
Prime Minister Imran Khan Sunday said that by encouraging the display of blasphemous cartoons targeting Islam. Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), French President Macron had chosen to deliberately provoke Muslims, including his own citizens.