PESHAWAR: A man was shot and killed in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province after he removed another man from his WhatsApp group, police and the victim’s brother said on Saturday, in what appears to be the first case of its kind.
The incident occurred in Regi, a rundown locality on the outskirts of Peshawar, on Friday evening, bringing to light the dangerous consequences of seemingly minor online disputes.
The suspect, Ashfaq Khan, opened fire on WhatsApp group administrator Mushtaq Ahmed after an altercation over the removal of the former from the latter’s WhatsApp group.
Humayun Khan, the victim’s brother, told Arab News that he was present at the scene when Khan opened fire on his brother, saying they were not aware of the details of the altercation.
“My slain brother Mushtaq and Ashfaq had developed some differences in a WhatsApp group, forcing my brother to remove the latter. Ashfaq got infuriated and shot my brother dead,” Humayun said.
“It was a non-issue or a very trivial matter. No one in our family even knew about the dispute at all.”
Abid Khan, a local police officer, said the brother of the deceased had lodged a complaint with police, accusing Khan of fatally shooting Ahmed.
The police report says both parties were in the process of reconciliation, when the suspect suddenly opened fire and killed the WhatsApp group admin.
Abid said the suspect fled the scene after shooting Ahmed dead and police were conducting raids to apprehend him.
The shooting has ignited a broader online discussion, with many social media users expressing sorrow over the incident during the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
Many users emphasized that one of the purposes of fasting in Ramadan is to cultivate self-restraint.
WhatsApp group admin shot dead in northwest Pakistan for allegedly removing member
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WhatsApp group admin shot dead in northwest Pakistan for allegedly removing member
- The shooting in the holy fasting month of Ramadan has ignited a broader online discussion
- Netizens emphasize one of the purposes of fasting in Ramadan is to cultivate self-restraint
Pakistan’s seafood exports to China hit nearly $255 million in 2025 as market reach widens
- Frozen fish and cephalopods lead exports as shipments expand beyond China’s coastal hubs
- Growth reflects Pakistan’s push to diversify exports and tap China’s inland consumer markets
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s seafood exports to China rose to nearly $255 million in 2025, underscoring Beijing’s growing importance as a destination for Pakistani marine products, according to data from China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) published by state-run APP on Monday.
The figures point to a broader geographic and product diversification of Pakistan’s seafood trade with China at a time when Islamabad is seeking to boost foreign exchange earnings and reduce reliance on a narrow set of export sectors.
“The gains were driven by sustained demand for frozen fish, cephalopods, and a growing range of processed seafood products in both coastal and inland markets,” APP said in a report, citing China Customs data.
Frozen fish remained the single largest export category, contributing about $64.6 million to Pakistan’s seafood shipments to China. Imports were concentrated in major coastal and metropolitan entry points, with Guangdong province emerging as the largest destination by value and volume, importing 8.48 million kilograms worth $15.7 million. Shandong and Beijing followed, each exceeding 7 million kilograms, while Shanghai, Tianjin and Zhejiang also recorded substantial volumes.
At the same time, smaller but notable shipments were recorded in inland provinces including Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou and Chongqing, suggesting a widening distribution footprint supported by expanding cold-chain logistics and growing demand away from China’s traditional port cities.
Cephalopods emerged as another key growth pillar. Exports of frozen cuttlefish and squid reached nearly $31 million, while frozen octopus rose to almost $12 million, reflecting demand from catering chains and seafood processors supplying China’s foodservice and ready-to-cook segments.
Affordable pelagic fish also performed strongly. Frozen sardines, sardinella, brisling and sprats recorded imports of around $14.9 million, supported by household consumption and mass-market food manufacturers.
In addition to core frozen categories, Pakistan exported roughly $14.4 million each in two higher-value segments classified by China Customs as “fish” and “fish products,” indicating a gradual shift toward processed and value-added seafood lines.
Analysts cited in the APP report attributed the overall growth to improved compliance with Chinese food safety standards, expanded approvals for Pakistani processing facilities and competitive pricing backed by Pakistan’s marine resource base. Investments in cold-chain logistics and streamlined customs procedures were also seen as supporting higher volumes and broader market access.
