A Pakistani religious scholar accused of assisting Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, in the abduction of former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Balochistan on Friday night. Local media identified the deceased as Mufti Shah Mir, a prominent religious figure in the region who had previously survived two assassination attempts.
Gunmen Ambush Mufti Shah Mir in Turbat
According to police, Mir was attacked by motorcycle-borne gunmen as he was leaving a mosque in Turbat after night prayers. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds at close range and succumbed to his injuries at the hospital on Friday.
Links to ISI and Terror Activities
Mir was associated with the fundamentalist group Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) and was reportedly involved in arms and human trafficking under the guise of a religious scholar. Reports suggest he had close ties to the ISI and frequently visited terror camps, aiding terrorist infiltration into Indian territory.
Just last week, two members of his party were also shot dead in Khuzdar, Balochistan’s third-largest city.
Unrest in Balochistan
Balochistan has been a hotspot for violent clashes and enforced disappearances, with activists, journalists, and politicians allegedly targeted by state forces. Earlier this year, at least 18 security personnel and 23 militants were killed in conflicts in the region.
Kulbhushan Jadhav Case
Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer running a business in Iran’s Chabahar, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court in 2017 on charges of espionage. India has strongly opposed the verdict, citing denial of a fair trial.
His execution was halted in 2019 after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) intervened and ordered Pakistan to review his conviction and also provide consular access.