Two killed in attack outside mosque in capital

ISLAMABAD: Gunmen on Wednesday killed two people and wounded at least four others outside Babul Ilm, a Shia mosque, following the evening prayers in I-8 Sector.

The gunmen arrived on foot and then ran away after the shooting, disappearing into a nearby greenbelt. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack. The incident has sparked fear of a fresh wave of sectarianism in the country as Shia Muslims were targeted in this attack.

Sources said one of the deceased has been identified as Syed Hubdar Hussain, a former IB officer. The second victim – Syedeen Zaidi had been attached with Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MWM), they said.

Zaidi was a lawyer representing the Shia mourners in the case of Ashura attack in Rawalpindi in 2013. Later, the ISPR disclosed that it was carried out by TTP. The shooting comes days after a military-brokered deal ended weeks-long anti-blasphemy protests in Islamabad that saw seven killed and hundreds wounded in clashes with police. "We’re not sure yet whether it is a sectarian incident," police official Ghulam Qasim said. "The man who died got five or six bullets. That seems to make him a target. No group immediately claimed responsibility,” he said.

"Two gunmen approached a water cooler installed outside the mosque’s main gate and filled their glasses with water, then opened fire indiscriminately on people as they came out," he said. Attacks are rare in the capital, but Al-Qaeda and Islamic State-affiliated sectarian groups are active in the country. Hamid Moosavi and Allama Sajid Naqvi condemned the

attack.