Muhammad Talha Raza was present at the mosque, located adjacent to Jamia Muhammadia Farooqia Rizvia, on Saturday evening when unidentified armed men entered the premises. One of the attackers opened fire, critically injuring Raza, Dawn reported.

The assailants reportedly fled the scene on motorcycles following the shooting.

Rescue and police officials later arrived at the spot and shifted the injured cleric to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on Sunday.

Police initially registered a case against Qari Aslam, his son Rehan Aslam, Muhammad Usman and Qasim Shah, along with several unidentified suspects, based on the statement recorded by the injured cleric, according to Dawn.

A Gujrat Police spokesperson told the newspaper that Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), relating to murder, had been added to the case already registered. Police said further investigation into the killing was underway.