Pakistani Man Killed Admin for Removing Him From WhatsApp® Group, Police Say

By Maria W.. Apr 7, 2025

A Pakistani man named Ashfaq has been charged in the early-March shooting death of an administrator of a WhatsApp^® group who removed him from the group.

The Murder

The victim, Mushtaq Ahmed, of northern Pakistan, was shot and killed the evening of March 6. A man known only as Ashfaq has been charged with murder, according to police documents reviewed by AFP (Air Force Pakistan) and a local police officer, as reported by France 24. The suspect’s full identity has not yet been revealed. The shooting occurred in Peshawar, about 116 miles from Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, according to the AFP news agency. Peshawar is the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province that shares a border with Afghanistan, and sectarian violence is common in the area.

WhatsApp Argument

According to the victim’s brother, Ahmed and Ashfaq had argued in the WhatsApp group before Ahmed removed Ashfaq from the chat. The brother said Ashfaq’s removal from the group angered Ahmed and prompted the alleged act of violence. Before the killing, the two men agreed to meet in person to resolve the disagreement. But according to the victim’s brother’s statement to the AFP, Ashfaq brought a gun to the meeting and opened fire on the victim, killing him, as reported by France 24.

The tragic killing of Mushtaq Ahmed shows how a simple disagreement in a WhatsApp group chat led to violence. What started as an argument between two people quickly turned deadly when the suspect, Ashfaq, brought a gun to their planned meeting. This incident highlights the dangers of conflicts escalating quickly, even over something as ordinary as a chat online.

This investigation is ongoing.

References: Man Accused of Killing Admin Who Kicked Him Out of WhatsApp Group | WhatsApp Group Admin Shot Dead for Allegedly Removing Member | WhatsApp Group Admin Killed in Peshawar After Removing Member