Bolton Man Shot Dead during a Trip to Pakistan

Tributes have been paid to a man from Bolton after he was shot dead during a trip to Pakistan.

Manchester Coroner’s Court heard Maqsood Ahmad Qamar, aged 45, was shot “multiple times” while visiting his home country on September 3, 2021.

Mr Qamar moved to the UK in 2013 after serving in the Pakistani army.

He leaves behind his wife Rashida Saeed and four children, aged 15, 12, 11 and nine.

After the hearing, his family paid tribute to him, saying:

“He was a really nice and really brave person.

“He was the kind of person you meet once and the qualities he had you want to implement onto yourself.

“He had four children – Shumia Laqudoos, Shehroz Qamar, Atikama Qsood and Jalees Qamar.

“He played volleyball for a long time. He loved sport.

“He loved gardening, he loved making things by himself, he loved cooking. He would always help out in the kitchen.”

His family went on to say that Mr Qamar worked at Stateside Foods in Westhoughton after retiring from the army in 2013.

The inquest heard that he had been in Pakistan for several months. His family confirmed that Mr Qamar had been in the country since the end of February.

During the hearing, police coroner’s officer Mark Littler told Manchester Coroner’s Court:

“The exact circumstances are unknown.”

Mr Littler went on to say that Mr Qamar was identified by his fingerprints.

At the hearing, senior coroner Nigel Meadows said that Mr Qamar had been unable to return to the UK “most likely due to the pandemic”.

His body has since been returned to the UK and a post-mortem was ordered by the coroner.

Mr Meadows continued:

“The results of the post-mortem are not yet available. Neither are any ballistics test or reports.”

He called for the results of both the post-mortem and ballistic reports to be submitted ahead of the next hearing.

Mr Meadows added that the coronial authorities do not have the power to go to Pakistan and investigate the death.

This is the same with any “violent or unnatural” death that occurs abroad.

The authorities can only go if they receive permission.

Instead, they are “reliant upon co-operation and assistance from the authorities in that country to provide evidence and information”.

Mr Meadows explained that his office had contacted the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and asked them to make a formal request via the British Embassy in Pakistan for assistance in the investigation from the authorities in Pakistan.

After the hearing, Mr Qamar’s family told the Manchester Evening News that they believe his killer remains at large.

The inquest has been adjourned to a date that is yet to be scheduled.