Questions of faith: Hakeem blames eviction on private clinics
A Hakeem, suspected of being an Ahmadi, was forced to pack up his business after he failed to satisfy the local authorities about his religious proclivities on Thursday evening.
However, Hakeem Sheikh Muhammad Arif claimed that although he was being forced to leave the district, his Muslim faith could not be questioned.
Ulema, belonging to different sects, had gathered at Tanawal House, residence of Qazi Abdul Haleem, district head of Majlis Tahafuze-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwat, to ponder the matter.
Hakeem Arif was also called in to testify that he was a true Muslim. The meeting was attended by religious leaders from Jamaat-e-Islami, JUI- F, Shaban Khatme Nabuwat and Muttahida Ulema Council.
According to the Ulema, two local religious leaders had visited the ‘Dawakhana Hakeem Sardar Ji Amratsar Waley’, owned by Arif. A picture of one of the associates of the Ahmadiyya faith founder was found hanging there.
When questioned, the hakeem initially asserted that the man in the picture was one of his elders. However, the same picture was later found whitewashed.
With their suspicions gaining further ground, the Ulema issued a warning to the local administration for the expulsion of Arif from the district.
The hakeem was summoned by the District Police Officer (DPO) who, according to Arif, asked him to stay out of Haripur till the matter was resolved.
Meanwhile, Arif obtained a religious decree from Jamia Ashrafia in Lahore along with two certificates carrying the signatures and seals of two Ulema in Lahore, testifying that he was a practicing Muslim and not an Ahmadi.
These were also faxed to various media outlets, including The Express Tribune. However, he was called at the gathering of Ulema again where he prepared a written statement, reaffirming his faith.
According to Arif, he also offered Maghreb prayers with the participants.
However, after the meeting, the authorities asked him to pack up his business and leave as he could not satisfy their doubts, while constantly changing statements.
They also asked the district administration to whitewash the wall-chalkings made in different parts of the district for marketing purposes of the Dawakhana.
When approached, Arif told The Express Tribune that even after proving his religious beliefs, he was made to wind up his business. He also alleged that he was framed by the owners of some private clinics as they perceived his Dawakhana to be a threat to their business.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 11th, 2011.
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O Pakistani people Please educate yourself otherwise History will remember you like Abu-Jehal & disbeleivers of Mecca & Madina. Here are some website to educate yourself www.alislam.org. www.mta.tv www.jalsasalana.org
Ignorant Mulla is the greatest tragedy in Islam. According to the Holy Quran, a Muslim is one who says that he is a Muslim. If he does not behave like a true Muslim, then it is matter for God to decide not any mulla. The Holy Prophet of Islam did not declare any one, not even the well known hypocrites, as "not muslims"! Mulla should fear Allah as he would be presented before Him one day!
Do you think that is fair??suppose if he is an Ahmadi...couldn't he run a business??need to be justified?
@Nihilist:
How many Muslims have been killed for their religion in Europe like it is done in Pakistan? How come there are large visa queues in Muslim countries of people wanting to go to Europe if this is true? How come no Muslims are leaving Europe, like people are leaving Pakistan in droves out of persecution?
LOL.. how is to one to convince others that he is a Muslim except by saying he is a Muslim? May be Maulanas should put a seal on the back side of confirmed Muslims like they put on animals to ensure no confusion takes place.
The way the story reads it's like the country is an official full blown oppressive theocracy like the medieval ages of the inquisition.....
Shame, this just highlights how hard life is for Ahmadis in Pakistan. If mere allegations on someone being an Ahmadi results in his eviction from a district, then think about what sort of mental torture do Ahmadis go through if they want to lead a normal life. Unfortunately, Ahmadis have to either keep their faith hidden as long as they can, or else face constant fear of losing their life/property at the hands of zealots operating freely in Pakistan. This extremist mindset started with the 1974 declaration of Ahmadis being declared non-muslims, and gained ground with the further ordinances against Ahmadis in 1984 introduced by General Zia ul Haq (Ordinance XX). I hope somehow this extremist mindset is over turned in the future, so that incidents like these stop happening and Ahmadis can start living as normal human beings in Pakistan.
@Nihilist: if these minorties try to force their backwardness on to an established way of life of a country,they have right to resist that;immigrants,if they have a problem,should go back to where life suits them
its remarkable that hakeem shakh arif earned his hikmat digree before three years ago and he is not exprienced hakeem and he accept before the ulma his all statments fals and baseless. he is not owner of dawakhan he is servant of hakeem daud from lia panjab
Aziz: European countries are already doing that to Muslim minorities. Even British people have raised the question of permissibility of multiculturalism. Seems you are out of touch from reality. Movements are gathering to forces minorities into conformity with the European ethos and values and cultures. That is why the Norwegian bomber did what he did. He felt the European values of promiscuity, democracy and freedom were being eroded away by giving leeway to the immigrants.
Pakistan is a country by the Muslims, for the Muslims, to the Muslims. Musalmanistan Zindabad. LOL
What if India, Sri Lanka, or Britain does the same treatment with minority Muslims in their countries....hahaha
Days are coming where we will need our CNICs for our identification, passports for travelling and religious decrees for proving our faith.
One feels really ashamed of being a citizen of this so called Islamic country where intolerance has reached at its extreme. We, the MUSLIMS, now have made life of non-Muslims,in specific, a hell. What are these mullahs up to? Are they going to decide as who lives or leaves.
Furthermore, who are these mullahs to decided about one's faith? Why have they become custodians of Islam? Who gives them this right? Allah? After the last prophet of God, the responsibility of muslims is to preach that version of Islam which they consider right and that's it!
Where's the writ of the government? What about the founder of the country, Quad-e-azam who said in his speech that all the Pakistanis will be equal citizens irrespective of their religion. Have these self styled scholars of religion forgotten Quaid's words?
Thank God, I was born in a Hindu family.
And Abdul Rehman Gillani thinks its the "liberals" who are "fascists". And thus the word, "liberal fascist".
disgusting, even if not a muslim so what, doesnt give anyone a right to turn someone out, its not theirs alone, the contry belongs to all who stay here irrespective of religion. i get depressed every time i read about sch wackos
I should also obtain certificates from Jamia Ashrafia proving my Muslimness in this 'land of the pure, you know, just in case...
You need NIC to prove your identification, while the certificate might save your life. Although for the poor hakeem even the certificate wasn't adequate safeguard against persecution.
And why should this man be hounded out of where he lives and works because of such a ridiculous issue?