A dispute over a WhatsApp group turned fatal after a man allegedly shot and killed the group administrator for removing him from the chat, police confirmed on Saturday.
The victim, Mushtaq Ahmed, was gunned down on Thursday evening in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which shares a border with Afghanistan. The region has a history of violent sectarian conflicts.
Police have charged a man identified only as Ashfaq with Mushtaq’s murder. According to police reports and a statement from the victim’s brother, Mushtaq had removed Ashfaq from the WhatsApp group following an argument.
In an attempt to resolve the conflict, both men arranged a meeting, but Ashfaq allegedly arrived armed and opened fire, killing Mushtaq on the spot.
Authorities say the case highlights the dangers posed by the easy availability of firearms, entrenched tribal customs, and weak law enforcement, which contribute to frequent violent altercations in the region.
The suspect has been charged, and further investigations are underway.
