A Pakistani man has been arrested and charged with murder after allegedly shooting the administrator of a community WhatsApp group for removing him from the chat, police confirmed on Saturday.
The tragic incident occurred on Thursday evening in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which shares a border with Afghanistan and has a history of sectarian violence.
According to police reports and statements from the victim’s family, Mushtaq Ahmed, who managed the WhatsApp group, had an argument with a member identified only as Ashfaq. Following the dispute, Mushtaq removed Ashfaq from the group, an action that reportedly enraged him.
Mushtaq’s brother stated that both men later agreed to meet and settle their differences. However, the meeting turned deadly when Ashfaq allegedly arrived armed and opened fire, fatally shooting Mushtaq.
Police documents indicate that Ashfaq was furious over being kicked out of the WhatsApp group, which is believed to have fueled his violent reaction.
The case has once again highlighted concerns over the easy availability of firearms, the deep influence of tribal customs, and weak law enforcement, which often contribute to violent disputes escalating into deadly confrontations in the region.
