Pakistan: Visiting Ahmadi Muslim doctor gunned down for his faith in Pakistan

http://ahmadiyyatimes.blogspot.com/

A US based cardiologist visiting Pakistan to provide free healthcare has been murdered today in Chanab Nagar (Rabwah), Punjab. According to preliminary reports, Dr. Mahdi Ali was gunned down few hours ago by unknown assailants shortly after the dawn prayers on Monday. Dr Ali had just finished paying his respects at friends and family graves at the Ahmadiyya elders cemetery when he was killed while coming out of the gate, it is reported.

The victim was murdered in front of his wife and a toddler son. He also leaves behind a 5 years old son and a 17 years old son, it was further reported in social media.

Dr. Mahdi Ali had traveled to Pakistan as a volunteer to serve in rural area of Punjab and provide free healthcare to poverty-stricken people of all faiths. Dr. Ali was providing his services at Rabwah's famous Tahir Heart Institute. Qasim Rashid, national spokesperson of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community - USA, expressed regret and sorrow over the senseless killing through his Twitter posts. "From God we are and to God must we return." "Dr Mahdi Ali's crime was healing the ill & lessening the pain of the suffering. For this "horrible" crime he paid with his life," Rashid said. The victim, an Assistant Professor of Cardiology at Ohio University, is a younger brother of Imam Hadi Ali Chaudhary, missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community serving at the Ahmadiyya Institute of Islamic Theology and Languages in Canada.