By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A NARRE WARREN-based Ahmadiyya Muslim has expressed his agony after learning of the fatal shooting of his younger brother in Pakistan this month.
Latif Alam Butt, 62, was shot dead by unknown assailants on 15 October near his home in Kamra, Pakistan, in what is believed to be another targeted attack on a person of the minority Ahmadi faith.
His elder brother Alam Mahmood Butt, who fled Pakistan where the Ahmadiyya faith is outlawed for the City of Casey in 2012, said he was devastated to learn of his sibling’s death.
He said his brother, a retiree from the Pakistan Air Force, was understood to be walking with his son when he was fatally shot.
“We are in complete shock and cannot express our grief of the loss of our very dear brother in words,” Mr Butt said.
“He was a part of my body and it looks like I have lost half of it.
“I feared this attack because he was a prominent Ahmadiyya follower in that area but I never wanted my fears to be true.”
In June the News reported on Berwick-based Ahmadiyya Muslim Waheed Ahmad Chatha, whose cousin was also shot dead in Pakistan in what was also believed to be a targeted attack.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Victoria spokesperson Aziz Bhatti said the group was grieving for the loss of another “innocent and law abiding Ahmadiyya Muslim”.
“The community members went to Mr Mahmood’s place and tried to console the family members,” he said.
“Whenever and wherever an Ahmadi Muslim is killed the whole community feels the pain and that is in our DNAs, we can’t help it.
“We all feel the pain of our community members.”
It’s understood Mr Mahmood’s family will be meeting with Holt MP Anthony Byrne on Friday to discuss the death of his brother.
Mr Byrne has previously praised the efforts of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association and highlighted the faith’s persecution around the world in a speech to Federal Parliament earlier this year.
“Anthony Byrne is particularly keen on a human rights front and knows about the community’s sufferings in Pakistan, Indonesia and in many other countries,” Mr Bhatti said.
“He has already spoken about us in national Parliament and he’s a great support for us.
“He always approaches us and he has once again assured his full support on the Ahmadiyya persecution issue.”
