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The politics of relief: Aliens in their own land
The govt and local clerics refused to shelter around 500 flood-affected families belonging to the Ahmadiya community.
500 flood survivors from Ahmadiya community denied shelter, relief goods
The government and local clerics refused to shelter around 500 flood-affected families belonging to the Ahmadiya community in South Punjab’s relief camps. Not only that, the government also did not send relief goods to the flood-hit areas belonging to the Ahmadiya community, The Express Tribune has learnt during a visit to the devastated Punjab districts of Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.
For its part, the government claims that all relief goods are being distributed among survivors without discrimination. And that all survivors have been sheltered in relief camps without distinction. The flood-devastated families from the Ahmadiya community have strongly criticised the government’s “discriminatory attitude” even at a time when the entire country is reeling from the ravages of the worst flooding in living memory.
Of the 500 Ahmadi families, 350 belong to DG Khan, 60 to Muzaffargarh and 65 to Rajanpur district. According to Ahmadiya community leaders, over 2,500 members of their community have been displaced and are now living with their relatives while some of them have left for Rabwah, the community’s headquarters.
Aziz Ahmad Khan, a local leader of flood victims from the Ahmadiya community in DG Khan, told The Express Tribune that all members of his family have complained of discrimination in DG Khan. He said 200 families from Basti Rindan and Basti Sohrani, 60 from Chah Ismaeel Wala, three from Rakh Mor Jangi, 18 from Ghazi Ghat and 12 from Jhakar Imam Shah of Ahmadpur. Khan alleged that 200 families, who have been displaced from Basti Rindan and Basti Sohrani by flooding, took shelter in a state-run school at Jhok Utra but within days the local administration forced them to leave the school. He said the local administration later told them that people from the surrounding areas did not want the Ahmadis in the relief camp. And that the administration could not allow them to stay at the camp as it could create a law and order situation.
“So we left our cattle and other belongings in the area and took refuge in the homes of our community members on higher grounds,” he said, adding that some of them even migrated to Chanabnagar.
Muhammad Iqbal Sohrani, a member of the Ahmadiya community told The Express Tribune that around 40 Ahmadi families who took shelter in a state-run school at Jhakar Imam Shah near Sumandri, some 40 kilometres from DG Khan, have not received any relief either from philanthropists or from the government. He alleged that relief packages were being distributed through local lawmakers who have been told by the district administration that the Ahmadis are not eligible for any support.
Saleem Chandia, another Ahmadiya community member, said that he along with 40 other community members rented a house but after two days their landlord was forced by local clerics to evict them. Chandia said they were offered help by their own community members after wandering for several days in search of shelter.
Mansoor Ahmad, a resident of Muzaffargarh, told The Express Tribune that over 800 members of the Ahmadiya community were displaced from Bait Nasirabad, Masroornagar, Hussainwala and Shahjamal. At least 100 members of the community, from Hussainwala and Masroorabad, were trapped at Shahjamal. He claimed that they had asked the district police officer (DPO) and the district coordination officer (DCO) to provide them a boat or to rescue the trapped people but they did not take notice.
Ahmad claimed that the trapped Ahmadis were rescued by their fellows on a broken boat. He said local clerics have issued an edict that the Ahmadis should not be provided help.
Naseem Ahmad, from Rajanpur, told The Express Tribune that their 500 community members from the areas of Basti Lashari, Basti Allahdad Dareeshak and from Basti Azizabad were displaced. Their houses were washed away and the government and local clerics ignored them. He said that they were not allowed to stay in state-run schools or in camps, therefore the majority of them were living on the rooftops of their inundated houses.
“The Ahmadiya community itself rescued trapped people and delivered relief to them,” community spokesperson Saleem-ul-Din told The Express Tribune by phone.
He said that the community did not want any relief package from the government for its members. However, the government should protect the property and livestock of the Ahmadis.
Hassan Iqbal, Commissioner DG Khan, told The Express Tribune that he would check the situation. He asked the Ahmadis to directly approach him if they face discrimination anywhere in the district. However, DCO Muzaffargarh Farasat Iqbal said that the Ahmadis have not contacted him.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2010.
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Reader Comments (193)
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Pakistan is certainly on a slippery road to ruin and devastation. Everyone knows how many of the Pakistani public ‘blindly’ follow the Mullahs in their hatred, persecution and killing of Ahmadis WHILST the remaining public sits quietly and watches. All are to blame one way or the other. Only in the last few days, despite the floods, two more Ahmadis were martyred just for being Ahmadis. We Ahmadis, following the example of Prophet Muhammad (saw) and the early Sahaba, continue to suffer but in return we have never retaliated, but instead have always turned to our Creator with patience and prayers.Recommend
Where should i start this tragic episode from, Every single Pakistani news channel today is pronouncing LOUD n CLEAR that these Floods are a Direct punishment from God Almighty in return for our deeds….Day in and day out i hear a TV channel use the word “Azab-e-Illahi” i.e a punishment From God.
They(on T.V) say that we should ask for forgiveness from God BUT I humbly ask that if this nation is going to continue its in-humane acts towards its citizens or a group of Pakistanis then How on earth do they actually think they will be Forgiven by God in the first place???
What religion, Faith, Ideology or Philosophy accepts this In-humane act of barbaric attitude to stop or hold a box of basic aid to reach a person who is left with his 2 hands n feat to live on? And what right do these government officials or so called religious clerics have to declare that a certain group of people should not be allowed any shelter? I mean did a Pakistani living in or outside the country who donated through money or means even for a single sec think that his particular aid should or should not reach a group of People…?? If he is a Pakistani than certainly he did not…!!!
Wake up Pakistan …..Wake up….. Cause If not Now then what more are u waiting for…?Recommend
This is utterly shameful. Let us remember that Allah will always be with the Ahmadis and anyone that causes them harm and persecutes them are going against the teachings of the Holy Prophet (SAW) and will have to answer to Allah for their actions.Recommend
Ladies and Gentlemen, by now we have 151 comments on this topic, some harsh and some kind. We Pakistanis have some things in common: we are highly emotional,have little tolerance, get easily disappointed and frustrated, blame each other,even for minor mistakes, but find no fault in ourselves. That’s why democracy produced chaos and anarchy, whenever it came. But we got to learn that there is no better political system yet devised by man. Therefore, lets develop the qualities which causes democracy to florish. We ascribe natural disasters as punishment from our Lord. How do we know it is from Him. There is no doubt that many of our acts are bad, even worse or more, but He says that He is an ever- indulgent Lord and continues to forgive us. He furhter says that if He were to take us to task for our misdeeds He wouldn’t leave even one of us alive. In the 114 Surahs of our holy Scripture, except one, He begins his message to us with,”In the name of the Lord Most gracious, Most Merciful”. He wishes us to be merciful to all our fellow men and women. I believe we have had plenty of comments on this topic by now, so it would be better for us to end it, and devote ourselves to help our unfortunate brethren in any way we can. I would also request Express Tribune to close this topic for more comments. Thank you all, anf my best wishes to you.Recommend
Shameful!
Forgive us Allah Mian, as we’ve forgotten the finest example of Prophet Muhammad SAW on Whom a Jew lady used to throw junk daily, despite that Prophet Muhammad SAW visited her when she was on bed — ailingRecommend
I feel so sorry for are brothers and sisters, and i hope and pray for them for there safety, and for their well beings, i want to help but i don’t know where to send the money, please can anyone tell me?
it would be really grateful of you to help me out here.
this is my email sidra_javaid@hotmail.com just send me the information there.Recommend
@sidra Javaid
Humanity First Pakistan is helping people of Pakistan in most of the affected areas, you can see this link to get the information of how HFP is working in Pakistan and how to donate:
Humanity First Pakistan Website
If you are living outside of Pakistan, you can go to their global website to select your country, they are registered in 33 countries. I have been using their US website, they have donate online option:
Humanity First Global WebsiteRecommend
we must fear Allah & think what GOD wants, when crisis comes people hels without thinking religion, like global village is helping pakistan without thinking we are muslim
people must think, sun rises only muslims or whole world ??????Recommend
Is this the example of the Holy Prophet Peace be upon Him about which they are showing.Shame on them and Shame on the Gov of Pakistan.They should learn from the prophet of Islam. May ALLAH bring change in minds of the people. Whole world is laughing on them,due to these kind of things.Recommend
The brothers who got killed in Sialkot. Another great story out of Pakistan. How many more innocent lives will be shed before this country relaizes that enough is enough! Who cares, hindu, muslim, Ismaili, Shia, Ahmadi or Sialkoti brothers??? Why does it matter??
They are all HUMAN BEINGS. ALL ARE FROM PAKISTAN. Treat Life with respect and maybe then Allah will treat the Pakistani nation with love and honor. STOP THESE BARBARIC KILLINGS NOW!!Recommend
Pakistan today is run by a bunch of monkeys who have the combined IQ of 6 year olds. They clearly can’t run a functioning nation state by themselves and should just hand over their land to the US or India or any people with half a brain. people dying = relief. Anyone else would understand this formulaRecommend
Simple.. Love for All, Hatred for None..
Only an Ahmedi has been saying this and will continue to say it..
Remember, Allah watches us all and knows all.. Not humans..Recommend
This Pakistani people coudn’t learn anything from any body .Because these flood is not simple thing,they should learn from this.because
whole world now halping them include those (Christran,Ahmadi,Hindu,
ets.)people who have been hated by these Pakistani.But still Ahmadi
people have been discriminiting by these people.Recommend
strong textNo one will believe me if I say that when innocent Ahmadis were still being killed by the brutal terrorists in their worship places,sweets were being distributed in northern city to celebrate the chivalry and a mullah was addressing the friday gathering saying that “though our two mujahedeen were killed but we have slain heaps of *kufaarRecommend
Have we lost all traces of humanity?Recommend
Pakistan Govrement should know that even Ahmadi is a Human! If you cant to anything for Ahmadis, do something for the humanity at least! Now, even Pakistan haven’t right to critisize to the world, why they arent helping Pakistan in this disaster – When even Pakistan arent helping theyre population! I hope the whole goverment gets blast!!Recommend
These are just the wages of Islam.Recommend
On **may 28th**, attacks were carrried out on Ahmadi mosques in Lahore. On **June 28th**, Airblue plane crashed in the Margalla hills killing all on board. On **July 28th** the unprecedented floods hit this country causing havoc that none of us had ever witnessed.
This may just be a coincidence, but just think for a while. Will this country’s leaders and clerics (so called Ullemas)ever learn???Recommend
Thank you for your posting Mr Mudassir. Let me talk about two incidents from the past: 1) a son was born in the family of our holy Prophet, and he died soon after. A total solar eclipse happened that day. One of his companions opined that it had happened because the sun was moved to sorrow. He replied that this was a natural event, unconnected with the death of his son. 2) this one is about a conversation between me and my Professor at the American University, where I was studying. He related to me that he was drafted in the army during the Second World War, as all able-bodied Americans are. His pastor in the army stated in the church one Sunday, that God was on their side in the war against Germans. He told me that he couldn’t digest the idea of God taking sides in the conflicts of men. And was so repelled by such talk, that he never attended church there-after. I learnt a lesson from him that day. I believe there is a thin margin between Faith and superstition.Recommend
This is nothing new…Pakistan has been discriminating this ahmadiiya minority for over 30 years – the whole world knows about it since the 28th of may 2010. Yesterday the foreign minister of germany announced, that Germany will not send money to the government, instead of it they will send relief goods, because they do not trust the government and believe, that the government money will embezzle the money… and give a part of it to the extremists – poor Pakistan…this is the picture the world has of you…because of the “clerics” and the government, which are everything else than ISLAMIC.Recommend
Love For All Hatred For NoneRecommend
@ Rizwan Ahmad. I think you remarks are discriminatory and derrogatory. What has beeen reported in the media is that Ahmadis were discriminated by the government in flood relief. Instead of condemning that fact you are condemning Ahmadis. Thats is where Pakistan started falling apart. Nepotism, favoritsm, bribes and Mullah ka pait bharoo even though he spreads hatred in the Juma Khutba. Think with an open mind, the people suffering are Pakistanis first and without any discrimination they should have been provided basic needs. If any of you have lived in the western society, have you ever noticed that they refused you emergency treatment in the hospital because you are a Muslim.Recommend
Now this is lack of humanity. Even Muhammad(PBUH)did not make any discrimination between Kafir and Muslims. We as a Nation need to get out of this please. Be open minded! Follow your religion but do not leave the humanity. I guess religion is important but for the sake of humanity one should do good, so humanity is also more important.
It is good that through this article we see another side of the our society. They must have forgotten ‘Huqooq-ul-Ibaad’, one needs to remind them for what Islam has said about ‘Huqooq-ul-Ibaad’.Recommend
r Aahmadis not citizens of Pakistan. does islam teach us such lesson ,if not then why r denying islams lesson of lov for all humanity .every citizen of pakistan should be helped irrespective of caste, colour ,and religion.allcivilized nations do that ,this applies for not only the govt. but r so called musalmans.shame on them.Recommend
i remembered that day the headline was the Flood in Pakistan.here we are not supporting any1 on the religion bases ……….so Y we discriminate anyone .here we are only supporting people on humanity bases not on sects on other bases.Recommend
No wonder the international community doesn’t trust the so called Pakistani government because it is a corrupt regime, and this is exactly why. Love for all, Hatred for None.Recommend
Pakistan contradicts itself. It states that it will always treat every citizen of Pakistan equal when a law was passed a few decades ago that Ahmadis can’t be.Recommend
This is a shame to the whole society of Pakistan, this is the image they present of themselves to the rest of the world. Some extremist Islamic preachers explained that Pakistan is in this present condition, because they were unable to wipe out the Ahmadiyya Jamaat and this is their punishment from Allah. I can only see a lack of humanity in these people. However, I still urge everyone to pray for the people who have been severely affected by these floods, whether Ahmadi Muslim, Sunni Muslim, Christian or Jew. After all, no one should be withdrawn from their right of being human!!!Recommend
As an American born Pakistani, I’ve always taken pride in my heritage and culture, and most of all my religion. I can’t speak with full authority on how it is to live there, as I don’t face the hardships some people face everyday; I can only speak based on what I see during my short visits to Pakistan, and read about, and hear from Pakistanis. What I’ve learned in the past few years about our current situation makes me sad. As the situation of Pakistan deteriorates, especially fast in recent years, hatred and inhumanity spreads and violence increases against anyone who’s beliefs are different. However, through it all, I’ve still maintained a hopeful attitude always and was never truly ashamed of being Pakistani. When I heard about the floods I knew it was Allah telling us to change ourselves for as a nation we’d fallen so low that we needed a jolt, or a taste of Allah’s wrath to awaken us and attempt to remove us from the path we’re on. While on one hand I see people within Pakistan doing so much and responding to the disaster with an open heart, perhaps with the realization sinking in that this was Allah’s message to us: change yourselves. On the other hand, I still see people continuing to spread that same hatred and intolerance that brought us here in the first place, even in the midst of a crisis. What more do you need to see before changing yourself? InshAllah I truly hope this brings about a better change in the long run, closer to the picture Quaid-e-Azam had for Pakistan, as opposed to falling deeper into this horrible pit we have slowly dug ourselves into.Recommend
@farhan:
‘misguided religion’ please refrain from bringing religious flare into a humanitarian forumRecommend
there are other places to discuss theseRecommend
Vilest shame on us so called Pakistanis and Muslims who denied help to our people and citizen on the basis of faith. such behaviour is ‘zulm’ in the words of the holy Quran, and all those who have been responsible for denying food and shelter to the Ahmadiees during the present flood situation are likel to go to purgatory, because they have not measured to the scale of ‘taqwa’Recommend
I read this articl and all of these coments after that I have some exampels and Question’s
1.When Sahaba-e-Rasool Salillaho alaihy wasalam (Razi Allah ho taala anho) migrated in Habsha the never look Government of habsha is Muslim Government or any other religius Government ?
2.If any person help to other person then they must be asked which relegion have you ?
3.Hadrat Mohamad Salillah ho alaihy wasalam some time take cradit from yahoodi pepels also that is islamic histry that time any muslim never make any objection about his religion ?
4.If any body is injurd then doctor dont have any right to aske first about his relegion he shuld help to him ?
5.If pakistani Government take help from Non Muslim cuntries or peoples but why they dont do help Non Muslim peoples for example Ahmadies (So called diclared non Muslim from Government of Pakistan)
6.I have requst if any body do social work or social help then they look Humanity is First. I think this is the velue of Humanity.
with thanksRecommend
Love for All Hatred for NoneRecommend
The levels of intolerance in our country beggars disbelief.Recommend
@ Rizwan Ahmad: if you’re so into facts.. i’d like to know where you’re getting yours.. claiming that this article is baseless. i think you should stop being ignorant and FACE the FACTS. this happens everyday. OH.. and i love how you ignored the issue and went on to make an irrelevant comment about the worldwide population of Ahmadis. I’d really love to know which population study of yours contradicts the one put out by the community, since you seem to be so good with the facts.
@ Merk: cheap publicity? What do you want the world to do?.. Ignore the mercilessness Pakistani aid administrators show Ahmadis so that THEY can gain some sympathy and aid from the rest of the world? please stop being ridiculous. if you loved the country so much, you would recognize the core issues with the mentality of its people and try to address the underlying issue rather than suppressing it for a quick fix.. because trust me, this nation is WAY beyond the quick fix stage. it needs some serious moral reform. hence.. the wrath of Allah.Recommend
@John Donne:
I completely understand your perspective but there are a few facts that you are skipping or are choosing to ignore.
1. During the Battle of Badr the Prophet threw sand at the Meccans and it was stated to be like Allah himself throwing the sand to the opponents. Not only this there are many saying of the Prophet and Quranic verses the make a correlation between natural disasters and punishment.
2. Punishment or not? I agree it is not right to infer that every single natural disaster is a punishment from God. But is it only a coincidence? After Mong (when a few Ahmadi’s were killed during Ramadhan praying in a Mosque) an earthquake hit Pakistan and after Lahore massive floods have been continuously hitting Pakistan.
I will end it here.Recommend
@Anonymous
Well Said..Recommend
Pakistan is engulfed in turmoil of preposterous dimensions because of the demagogue attitude of so called Muslim clerics , or Jihadi Mullahs. They were bitterly against the creation of Pakistan and Qaid-e-Azam. Now it has come into existence, they are going to destroy it from within. These shameless Mullahs have invited the rage of God Almighty and majority of Pakistanis are involved in it now, since they do not speak against injustices .Allah will destroy these Jihadis along with their coronies.
Do Ghari sabr se kaam lo sathio.
Rut badal Jaige ,Raat dhal Jaige.Recommend
If this is true that some poeple been denied aid due to their faith(ahmadiyya) then its really shame and Govt of Pakistan is accountable for this unjustyfied act, it may be possible too that such news is fabricated by ahmadiyya.Recommend
Dear Manan,
you have very rightly pointed out a issue that we al as muslim need to understand and act. Our religion does not teach us discrimination in humans, we as a muslim need to act and make others to follow and us and thats the only way way we could show the world that Islam teach harmony.
Now coming to the situation, this is the time that we need to develop the systems and strengthen the insitutions. Its all is due due to week systems, so for future preparedness to combat any such catastrophy the systems need to be strengthened.
Regards
Dr. AlamRecommend
what was their patronizing ngo ‘humanity first’ doing at that time??different channels from the west have been paid by them to promote and pubicize this ngo,and their so called role in being the ‘saviour’ of flood affectees,,just a gimmick to gain publicity..cheap yellow journalism,,just look at the no. of ppl affected in floods,,its in millions n millions,,n look at how the small no. of ahmadis who complained about not getting help from govt,,this news has been blown out of proportion,,bcoz ahmadi or non ahmadi,,majority of flood affectees have been complaining that they could not get the required help/relief,,bcoz the disaster was on such a massive level,,Recommend
With almost 50000 victims in pakistan being assisted and over 10000 treated by Humanity First, i think the critcism is rather unjust and childish. I think if the above writer knew that all directors and Chairman/vice chairmen are all unpaid volunteers, the comments would never have been made. With approx 95p in every pound going to those who are in need, any such accusations and finger pointing is either just naive or malicious.Recommend