In February 2010, while Ahmed was preparing to run for the seat of National Assembly in by-election in NA-55, Rawalpindi, he was attacked by unknown gunmen at his election office in Rawalpindi. It was believed Taliban militants were behind the attack which injured Ahmed and killed three others known to be his bodyguards.&lt;ref name="dawn/9feb2010"&gt;&lt;/ref&gt; Ahmed earlier supported President Musharraf's military operation against the militants in Federally Administered Tribal Areas and the Siege of Lal Masjid&lt;ref name="nytimes/8feb2010"&gt;&lt;/ref&gt; and has been on the hit list of militants. He was defeated in the by-elections by a wide margin.&lt;ref name="dawn/11may2013"&gt;&lt;/ref&gt;