Maulana Masood-ur-Rehman, the Central Deputy General Secretary of the Sunni Ulema Council Friday embraced martyrdom and his driver sustained bullet injuries when armed motorcyclists ambushed them near the Ghori Town area of Islamabad, reported the 24NewsHD TV channel.

According to sources, unidentified assailants on two motorcycles targeted Maulana Masood-ur-Rehman in the limits of Khana police station in broad daylight.

On receiving serious bullet injuries, he was swiftly shifted to the hospital for medical attention but he succumbed to his profuse bleeding.

The incident has left the people of Islamabad and Rawalpindi in shock and raised serious security concerns.

The motives behind the assailants' actions remained unclear.

The Sunni Ulema Council, a prominent religious organization, has condemned the attack, calling it an assault on the freedom of expression and religious leadership.