LAHORE: An Ahmadi jeweller in Silanwali, Sargodha was charged with blasphemy for the second time in his life for “posing as a Muslim” and for putting up a translation of the Quranic text in his shop.
Muhammad Ashraf, who was earlier charged along with his co-workers in 2009 for posing as Muslims, was charged with blasphemy on July 23 this year under Section 298-C on the complaint of Hafiz Muhammad Imran.
Ashraf was sent to Central Jail Sargodha on July 24 and was released on bail on the exchange of bail bonds worth Rs50,000 on July 31. The case is under trial at a local magisterial court in Sargodha.
The FIR registered against Ashraf mentioned that he had put up translations of text from the Holy Quran in his shop at Kobi Market, Saeed Bazar, which was against the Section 298-C of 1984 Ordinance.
As per Section 298-C, an Ahmadi who “refers to his faith as Islam, or preaches or propagates his faith, or invites others to accept his faith, by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representations, or in any manner whatsoever outrages the religious feelings of Muslims” will be punished with up to three years in prison and is liable to pay a fine.
The text translation in Ashraf’s shop read, “O people of faith always speak the straight truth.”
The Station House Officer (SHO) of the Silanwali Police Station, Irfan Safdar, told The Express Tribune that, “After the complaint, our security constable Aslam and other investigation staff of police went to verify if the translation of the Quranic text was actually there at Ashraf’s shop, and it was. So we registered the FIR.”
The SHO said the security constables verified that, “Ashraf was spreading his faith and pretends to be a Muslim.” He further said that the “entire process of verification and taking Ashraf into custody took about two hours. Ashraf was taken into custody and then the FIR was registered quickly after that.”
According to details shared with The Express Tribune, on July 22, Hafiz Imran came to the jeweller's shop which has been in the market for seven years, and asked for removal of the translation, which Ashraf refused to take off.
Ashraf recalled that Imran said to him “these are good words, but this (Ashraf’s shop) is not a good place.”
The next day, when Ashraf went to open his shop at around 11am, he met the police security constable Aslam, who according to the SHO verified the presence of the Quranic text translation in Ashraf’s shop.
Ashraf said the police security constable was followed by another man in civilian clothes from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) who picked him up and said that the SHO wanted to speak to him.
Ashraf was then taken to the police station and put behind bars. Eventually he was imprisoned for six days in the Central Jail Sargodha where he stayed in the same section as that of murderers and prisoners on death row.
In 2009, Ashraf and two other Ahmadi men who have businesses in the same market, were arrested for ‘posing as Muslims’ and for praying inside a room in the market. After spending 28 days in jail after that FIR, Ashraf and his co-accused got bail from the court.
District Police Officer (DPO) Sargodha Dr Rizwan told The Express Tribune that, “In my field of experience, the intolerance against Ahmadis has considerably decreased, over the last few years – I mean the use of violence against them by the extreme right wing. The use of legal apparatus to redress perceived transgression is indicative of improved civility.”
Spokesperson of the Ahmadi community in Pakistan, Saleemuddin asked, “Does the Punjab police have nothing better to do, than to register FIRs against peaceful citizens on complaints of every cleric? Do they not have terrorists and criminals to catch for people’s protection?”
The community says that there are a number of cases which are pending in courts against Ahmadi citizens, in which even women and children have been charged with 298-C. There is also an active FIR registered against the residents of the entire town of Rabwah with the same charges. Rabwah, or Chanab Nagar, is in district Jhang of Punjab and has the highest population of Ahmadi community in Pakistan.
'Treated like lepers and Jews'
Leading human rights activist, former chairperson HRCP and former president Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan Asma Jahangir while speaking to The Express Tribune said that the government officials have always given a message that they do not recognise the Ahmadi community, which is “treated like lepers and Jews” in Pakistan.
Commenting on the current state of Ahmadi persecution, Jahangir said that “the situation is so bad that I, who do not support the Ahmadi faith but oppose their persecution, have been threatened.”
Jahangir added that the “politicians will only care about Ahmadi community when they are not on the separate electorate anymore.”
COMMENTS (147)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@aysha: Thank you Aysha you have bright mind may Allah bless you and your faimly.Pakistan need people like you.
thanks babur
Ahmedis shall remain Ahmedis and not to create mess by calling themselves as Muslims !
@afzaalkhan: AfzaalKhan sahib, your arrogance is only surpassed by your ignorance ("Stop breaking the law and you won’t be arrested."). Pakistan calls itself a democratic state. The definition of democracy is "to implement the will of the majority tempered by the desire to protect the rights of the minorities." Would you say the same to Nelson Mandela for standing up for his rights as a black man in South Africa? Would you say the same to Martin Luther King for standing up for his rights in America? How dare you say these words when you believe in the religion of Islam; the religion that stands above and beyond all other religions in giving rights to the masses.
Congratulation Muhammad Ashraf, God bless you. Pakistani muslims must think about this decision.
@Mia Bashir: Mian Bashir Sahib, You are absolutely ignorant of ahmadyya teachings. I know they recite the same Holy Quran, offer same namaz. They believe in the absolute finality of Hazrat Mohammad PBUH. I know a number of my friends. They are God fearing people. The difference is the interpretation of Quranic translation but not the actual arabic wording
not embarrassing......yar its pakistan
@ Sikander Afridi : and what is happening with Muslims in Kashmir or Burma is also right????????
Instead of maligning the law one should think why was he posing as a Muslim.Its like making people fool about ones identity.Its good to see a prompt action is taken against such transgressors.
“Ashraf was spreading his faith and pretends to be a Muslim.” Legally in any legal system that is known to me, and linguistically, which is my professional field, that is a contradiction in terms. If the faith of Ashraf is not the Islam, then he can spread his faith, and as that is illegal in your country (?) can be put in jail for it. But, he cannot spread his faith and pretend to be a Muslem, he would be spreading the Islam. I hope spreading the Islam is not illegal in Pakistan? Please try to use wisdom first!
I quote from Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah's address to the consituent assembly of Pakistan delivewred on 11 August 1947 and I quote
' You are free to go to your Temples, you are free to go to your Mosques or any other place of worship in yhis state of Pakistan. You may belong to any to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the state. We should keep this ideal in mind and you will find that in thecourse of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims not in the religious sense because that is the personal faith of each individual but in the political sense as citizens of the state. This is to lament the fact that we as a nation have forgotten the ideals put forward by the founder of Pakistan
I can only quote the speech of Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah delivered to the constituent Assembly of Pakistan 11 August 1947 and I quote
::::You are free to go to your Temples,you are free to go to your Mosques or to any other place of worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State.We should keep this ideal in mind and you will find that in the course of time Hindus would cease to Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims not in the religious sense because that is personal faith of each individual but in the political sense as cittizens of the state,
@AhmadiEducation:
"Dear Mehboob, you are right that islam is the only religion which is for the whole world"
That is a very conceited, dogmatic and obscurantist world-view. Where is your proof?
I think this debate and critique is more about the law itself than the event mentioned. Should Muslim scholars sit down together at a suitable forum in order to reach consensus on the way forward?
@Observer: no constitution besides Pakistan's indulged in this kind of legislation
i write punjabi ( DURR FITEY MOO)
Pakistan at its very finest i.e lowest...
So what about the Millions who pretend to be Muslims? should the Thekedars of Islam start picking them up also.My beloved country truly needs a better hobby to keep themselves busy.
Consipracy to divert Pakistan's performance in London Olympics.
@gp65:
In fact he was fluent in Sanskrit and well versed in Bhagawadgeetha. He even credited the holy text for changing his approach to physics. Even Einstein commented- "When I read the Bhagavad-Gita and reflect about how God created this universe everything else seems so superfluous"
And I am sure, neither of them was a Hindu!
@Bilal:
You must consider the fact that a good number of non-Pakistanis make the 95%. Take non-Pakistanis off and you might not be surprised.
@AhmadiEducation:
God likes this and doesn't like that.....it's as if you have a direct hotline to god!!
@Solomon2:
Koran is never translated literally and there is a very good reason for that. Try Google auto translate with a dozen random verses and you will understand.
@afzaalkhan: What law???
Ahmadis are labelled Kafirs by Pakistanis.Real Muslims never treated Kafirs of Mecca like this.Kuffar of Mecca treated muslims like this,so who is the Kafir?
As Bully Shah said
Tenoon Kafir,Kafir Kehndey,Bulleya toon aho aho keh
( Those who are Kafirs themselves,call you a Kafir Bulley Shah you say I am.)
@salman: "Ahmadis are not muslims as per Pakistan law !!! lets not start the debate again"
Well clearly this is a bad law since God has not given the right to humans to decide the faith of other humans. But as you say , let us not debate his law and accept that it exists. Does that mean this man violaed the law? No. Father of atom bomb Oppenheimer quoted from Hindu scriptures . Does that mean he was pretending to be Hindu? No. Similarly Australian captain had a Quranic verse tatooed on his arm. Does that mean he is pretending to be a Muslim? No. So why does having this verse in his shop amount to his misrepresenting himself as a Muslim? You may not consider them Muslims but they do believe in Quran, so why should they be prevented from quoting from their own holy book?
I tell all my Ahmedi friends they are lucky to have facial features like everybody else,unlike the Hazaras of Balochistan,otherwise they would have been singled out a long time ago.My question to the efficient Punjab Police:How did you verify Ashraf's religion?
The SHO said the security constables verified that, “Ashraf was spreading his faith and pretends to be a Muslim.”
This is a self contradictory statement, if Ashraf was pretending to be a Muslim he must have been spreading Islam. The whole affair is absurd.
Almost 95% comments condemning this action, but i am failed to understand who is supporting this act
President Zardari wrote a letter to Burma. Hope he knows whats going on under his nose
@aysha:
". No constitution of any country in the world has taken upon itself to identify faith of its citizens."
Apparently you are not familiar with the fact that Pakistan indeed has laws that declare Ahmedis to be non-Muslims.
Ahmadis are not muslims as per Pakistan law !!!
lets not start the debate again
The biggest problem with Islam and Muslims is that they worry more about what others do or don't do with respect to their religion rather than focusing on self purification and self spiritual enlightenment. The blasphemy, apostasy etc. primitive laws are tools used to control the thoughts and behavior of the followers.
What if this guy had verses from the Quran pasted on his walls? Is god so petty to offended by this act? Does the almighty god need protection from mortals?
@Shayan:
Actually - there was no persecution of these poor people before these laws. They lived peacefully with their neighbors
These laws only emboldened extremists - today we are in the sorry position where moderates cower in fear while the extremists swagger all over. .
I once read "The measure of a civilization is how it treats its weakest members." As a nation we are on the path to barbarianism.
@Shayan: Anybody who claims to be a muslim should be considered a muslim. No constitution of any country in the world has taken upon itself to identify faith of its citizens. It is an individual's concern and nobody else
This nation of religious morons never fails to disappoint me or humanity in general. The failed state is surely going down the drain,and will cease to exist. I should say The earliest, the better.
Mullahs against posting of Quran writings and translations with the help of Section 298-C of 1984 Ordinance of Gen. Zia. Someone please make me understand this.
Micheal Clarke the Aussie cricketer... in some moment of insanity ( according to Pakistani Law) got tattooed on his arm a verse as well....he was asked about it by the press and he said he liked the meaning. Thank God Pakistan is in the state which it is in, for if Australia had come over to play there, they would have lost their captain to Paki mullah :P
I don't blame him for claiming to be a Muslim He will be killed otherwise I'm an ahmedi!!!! ( technically not but innthis case I am)
A non Muslim can quote Quran, but not Ahmedis! Sad. This is crap. Live and let live.
Sad...let them live. Peace. Else this country's future will go down the drain!
"In the last six decades, we have witnessed the gradual conversion of Pakistan from a secular state (Jinnah's speech on August 11, 1947...'you are free to go your mosques, to go to your temples...'), to an Islamic state (Objectives Resolution in 1949) to a Sunni State (General Zia-ul-Haq's promulgation of Sunni Islam) to a Deobandi-Wahhabi State through the Pakistan Army's willing participation into anti-Soviet Union Jihad in Afghanistan, which was financed, unfortunately, by U.S. during its myopic Cold-War mentality, and by Saudi petro-dollars and indoctrinated by a Jihadi Wahhabi-Deobandi ideology," Rusty Walker, an American political commentator rightly observed. Now, Shias should be prepared to face the Islamic hurricane in years ahead like Ahmedis are facing. My question to all can Pakistan become a nation state??? Please, do answer...
@Observer:
I think she is referring to common mentality of considering lepers equivalent to Jews, not her personal views.
disgusting, how can this be right. I a Muslim Alhamdulilah and not an Ahmadi; however I can not see any justification for this. If indeed it is the law, the law is repugnant to the teaching of Islam.
I am truly ashamed of my country which has been taken over by the Wahabi's sect thanks to the Saudi money. This is the type of news that was good 300 years ago but today, my god, it has become shameful.....I think the American got the worng country in the war with terror, it should have been the Saudi Arabia rather than Afghan and Iraq.....the true axis of evil, Kingdom of Saudi......
What shameful act....don't know when Pakistan will get ride of Molvie's curse.....
Dear All Why criticize someone for following the law? The article states that the guy was sentenced for the same thing in 2009 and he should show some restrain in doing it again. With all sensitivity to Ahmadis religious beliefs, i think he should have hung the ayat or its translation at his home or his bedroom or where ever he prays. If something is against the constitution we shouldnt do it.And the point about keeping things low key by the prophet and his companions in the early days of islam applies more to the ahmadis here. You know you are being persecuted why fuel the fire and specially when u believe in koran and islamic tradition. We can debate the law. Yes there might be defficiencies in it and it needs improvement but we have a system for that. The ahmadis have strong links in the pakistani establishment. They have a strong media presence, there are channels that actively preach their faith and all. They have strong links with NGOs and international agencies. The onus is on them to bring about a democratic change. Minorities face difficulties in democratic countries, muslims in india, mormons in US etc. But there are proper waays to channel their agenda onto the mainstream. and an arrest can not be equated to a massacre so please stop comparing this non news to the situation in burma.
Who is prosecuting and repressing Ahmedis in Pakistan ?
The people of Pakistan.
Because, if the people of Pakistan were not responsible for it, they would repeal the law that enables the police and judiciary to charge, prosecute and punish Ahmedis.
How come Pakistanis never mess with followers of Nation of Islam?
@Sikandar Afridi: Whether Ahmadis are Muslims or not is not the question here. The question is what's wrong with someone putting up a translation of a verse from the Holy Quran, whether Muslim or not?
By the way what have Ahmadis done to you that you are justifying persecution?
we shoud prayer of thies kind of poples God give aazab. Aameen
@Shayan: “The fact remains that Ahmedis pretending to be muslims is against the law. The DPO is right and what he means is that had there been no law we would have more hate crimes against the Ahmeddis by the extremists.”
How does putting a text imply he is pretending to be a Muslim? I am a Hindu. If I put up the 10 commandments on my desk, does that mean I am pretending to be a Christian? No. IT means I am showing respect for another faith.
If Amir Khan runs a show called Satyamev Jayate (Truth alone prevails) which is something in our Hindu scriptures, does that mean he is pretending to be a Hindu? No it means that he supports the truth – nothing more and nothing less.
gp
You can put up the ten commandments but you do not claim to be a follower of Christ and do not purvey your own beliefs and faith as Christianity.
Amir Khan can use Satyamev Jayte but he doe snot claim to be a Hindu and does not purvey his own religion as Hinduism.
Neither does Premji.
Ahmadis are unique in that they seek to destroy Islam from within by blatantly claiming to be Muslim when they have no relationship to the religion.
Hmmm...very grim situation....Why don't ahmadis convert to Christian or Hindu or Buddhist or Jew ? They can float their own religion other than Islam ? They can bring great teachings from other religion and make their branded new religion.....
@Ahmad: Kindly define FAITH...IF, AND ONLY IF, you can. Dare I say, you are nothing but another "holier than thou" bigot.
I'm proud of the Sherlock Holmes within Pakistani Police who cracked this ghastly crime in such notice. And that too two times! No one should underestimate the negative impact of such criminal impersonation on GDP, National Productivity, Growth Rate, Unemployment Rate, Literacy, Unchecked Population Growth, Polio etc. etc. Congratulations to Pakistani Police, You guys craked it!
The action by police is commendable.
This just gets funnier and funnier!
@Muslim:
The difficulty is that it is an inhumane and cruel law and against human rights so you should be condemning this bad law. Where is your condemnation?
@Indian: You bunderstanis are so ignorant and idiots,that you can't understand other peoples religion especialy Islam.Islam is a religion of peace and tranquality within self and for others no matter what they believe.Therefore no persicuton of non-muslims at all is allowed. But the difference with qadianis is,that they themselves treat as different people than the mainstream muslims.Where it suites them,they use Islam as coverThere way of prayer and way of living are different from muslims.Therefore only objection to themselve calling muslim is valid.Why they don't revart to call themselves as mirzai's (mirza ghulam ahmed) fallowers and his servants?Or is it too shamefull for them to use this prefix with their name.I wonder,why they use Islam and Quran to bolster and deceive non-mirzais in the world.They were given full apportunity by the parlimant and the government of the time to defend their stance.But they failed and their leaders ran out of the country and left these people behind to make troubles.The law of the must be obeyed by all citizen and must not hurt other peoples by using false claims i.e.they are muslims,which in reality they are not.They are only marzais and that is the reality. And people like you always jumpin to make touble.What shame for you bunderstanis can't solve your own religous problems in your own country but will through a spanner in Pakistani affairs.
@Sikandar Afridi: I don't know where you are coming from but the Islam we know (and true) Islam does not consider it 'fair' to brutally persecute a minority. It is thanks to people like you its so difficult to convert non-muslims to this religion of peace.
Its yet another case of bringing Law into operation and false outcry about Ahmadis about their persecution. Ahmadis are declared non-Muslims by 125 scholars from all the countries of the world and according to laws in Pakistan they can't impersonate themselves as Muslims which they are not. If police is doing something good then it should be encouraged. Police is unable to apprehend criminals and arresting Ahmaids for pretending to be Muslims, this is a baseless argument. Two wrongs don't make a right. Its the duty of Pakistani state to prevent its Muslim citizens from the vicious propaganda of Ahmadis.
I dont see the logic, I can read quran in india and no one bothers about it, while if i try and do the same in Islamic Republic of pakistan i run a risk of being imprisoned?
Pakistan is in crisis one after another ever since they declared ahmadis as non muslims and passed draconian laws against the jamat. It is an eye opener for all of us
Some Pakistani's are charged for offending the faith of some other Pakistani's; Do any charges get filed against some Pakistanis for offending the reason of some other Pakistani's?
@ Sikandar Afridi " Ahmadis are not Muslims and whatever is happening to hem is absolutely fiair" WHY THIS IS NOT HAPPENING TO HINDOOS,SIKHS AND CHRISTIANS BECAUSE ARE BROTHERS ( IN MULLAS ISLAM )This is embarrassing. Ahmedies should be invited to true Islam by discussion, Argument and good treatment. This behavior of clerics will only make things worse. Imagine same thing had happened to me or my father i would never had accepted main stream Islam.
If Khatem e nabuwat can act nice in west and focus on argument instead of violence why not do the same in Pakistan.Muslims tell me there are NO translations of the Koran from Arabic, only interpretations. I've seen the different English versions and I believe them in this. So why should a "translation" be a prosecutable crime? Will ordinary Pakistanis help this Ahmadi or simply cluck "that's too bad" and remain indifferent?
@Sikandar Afridi: Then whatever happening to Muslim all over the world is fair too- According to your definition because according to you we as a human have right to judge who is Muslim who is not - Who is right who is wrong then if some white guys burn mosque or ban Hijab or do drone attacks on innocent Muslim civilians, then he has a equal right to decide what is right and what is wrong- I am just elaborating your definition
So called amahdis are NOT muslims, Infact they mislead the world and are trying to do the same to muslims,, As you can see from the commets even real muslims are unaware of what they really stand for they will procliam to be followers of islam but they are no more then wolfs in sheeps clothing,, Pls try learn what these people really are befrore jumping to there defense...
if you are a true Muslim then why not pray for Ahamdi's as our Muhammad (saw) would have done - an Ahmadi
Here, a beautiful portion of the Qur'an is being utilized for hateful motives. How do you suppose almighty Allah will answer this?
Pakistani short sightedness has failed to excite a generation of scientist by disowning Dr. Salam the only Nobel laureate Pakistan had. Ideally in all over the world the name of local Nobel laureate is on schools, library, scholarships and laboratories. Dr. Salam was an Ahmadi and Pakistan is willing to live with a generation of no scientist than live in a false pride of being a Sunni. even his grave stone was destroyed as it said first muslim to win a Nobel prize.
Ahmadis are not muslims, and whatever is happening to them is absolutely fair.
I swear to God even before I read the quote of Asma Jahangir I thought that this feels like Nazi-Germany hunting for Jews pretending to be Germans. I really feel sad for Pakistan.
The progress of west lies in separating religion from state after years of barbarism between catholic and protestants. Its strange that Christians are in majority in west but their beliefs have no role in state. If Pakistan want to progress, it should separate religion from state.
The Holy Quran was revealed for whole of mankind, not just for muslims. What if tomorrow a christian were to display a quotation from Holy Quran, or a muslim a quotation from Bible?. Let us leave certain judgements for Almighty to deliver on the Day Of Judgement. It is not for ordinary folks to deliver these judgements. As for the Ahmedis if they do not believe that Muhammed(Peace Be Upon Him) is the last prophet, than they automatically are not muslims. We cannot kill them or deny rights of citizenship to them. The state must protect all citizens be they Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Bhuddists, Parsis, Ahmedis. or even atheists.
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
@Babloo Why Ahmadis are not allowed to claim whatever they are ? Only because mullas are scared of them and can not stand up to their argumentAs per Leading human rights activist, former chairperson HRCP and former president Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan Asma Jahangir Ahmadis are treated as *
Wow, this coming from the top human right activist of pakistan is appaling. If its ok to equate Jews with lepers, as per the Leading human rights activist of pakistan, there should be no wrong in putting Ahmadis in the same basket.
& this woman is Leading human rights activist, i mean Leading human rights activist........
God Bless pakistan!!
@Jihad Bil-Qalam: You are right. There is no requirement in the Quran for a person to formally accept Islam in order to practice it. Isn't it what most Muslims doing day in and day out?
If you look at the home page of the FT. You will see this story juxtaposed with a story about Zardari expressing concern about Burmese Muslims. Is the irony of this lost on the [censored] citizens of the [censored] state of Pakistan?
Whats wrong in portraying Quranic Verse in Shop. good words can be depicted any place respectfully. if any non-muslim portrays Quranic verse in home or shop, it should be proud for muslims instead of being sentenced for blashphemy.. pretty Ironic ....??
Day and night all the time punjab police is busy to do what it shuold not do.shame on shahbaz sharif
""In 2009, Ashraf and two other Ahmadi men who have businesses in the same market, were arrested for ‘posing as Muslims’ and for praying inside a room in the market.""
How shameful, The Kuffar in the time of Holy Prophet SAW used to punish Muslims for praying. The Mullahs in Pakistan are following the footsteps of Mushrikeen-e-Makkah. These thaikaidars of Islam do not have any sense. The tragedy is that these ca. 2% of the "ThaikeyDars of Islam" have hijacked the 98% society. It is an even bigger crime not to stop these without-sense creatures.
@Shayan: "The fact remains that Ahmedis pretending to be muslims is against the law. The DPO is right and what he means is that had there been no law we would have more hate crimes against the Ahmeddis by the extremists."
How does putting a text imply he is pretending to be a Muslim? I am a Hindu. If I put up the 10 commandments on my desk, does that mean I am pretending to be a Christian? No. IT means I am showing respect for another faith.
If Amir Khan runs a show called Satyamev Jayate (Truth alone prevails) which is something in our Hindu scriptures, does that mean he is pretending to be a Hindu? No it means that he supports the truth - nothing more and nothing less.
Apart from this incident, I know Ahmadis also have been arrested for simply greeting others in a way that is customary throughout Pakistan by stating that by using such greetings they are misrepresenting themselves as Muslims. When Azim Premji (an Indian Muslim who is one of the richest people in the world- not just India) was invited on Amir Khan's show, Amir greeted him with Salaam. Azim Premji replied 'Namaskaar'. Does that mean Premji is pretending to be a Hindu? No. It simply means that he considers himself an Indian first and does not want to distinguish himself from other Indians in the way he greets people.
@Mehboob:
Who told you this? Pakistan law says otherwise.
I come from Bihar ( India). There is a sizable community of Ahmedis living in Monghyr district of Bihar. In fact some of my very close relatives are Ahmedis. Except that marriages were not allowed by our conservative ancestors in Ahmedi families. Rest of the Community life was very peaceful. During 1946 riots Ahmeds and Sunni Muslims grouped together against non-Muslims. We were living a very peaceful community life. Even after partition, everything was smooth. Maulana Maudodi was waiting for the ripe occasion. After the assassination of Liqat Ali Khan JI came out in the open leading to localized Martial Law in Lahore. JI could not succeed but ZAB did it - he declared Ahmedis non-Muslims and later on Ziaul Haq added some nuts and bolts to it. Pakistan has lost its path. A house divided among itself cannot exist for a long time.
Figures. Telling anyone to speak the truth in is so in Pakistan is so blasphemous in these days.
Blasphemy Law is a Blasphemy to Islam itself...It has nothing to do with the essence of Islam which is a message of peace, love, humanity, care and respect...
AND THEN
You ask why ALLAH SUBHANATALLAH is not happy with us, why we are facing the wrath, it is for this very reason!!!
I am ashamed to be a pakistani
"Wasn’t Quran, Islam and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) sent for the whole world, all the people of the earth. What is the problem if some non-Muslim likes our religion. "
Dear Mehboob, you are right that islam is the only religion which is for the whole world. So when some non-Muslim accepts Islam, it is an occasion for joy and celebration for all Muslims. But Allah has warned us about those who say they have accepted Islam and worship the same God as Muslims, but hide their sin of following other religions. Allah dislikes such people the most.
same can be situation in india but we hindu taught them lesson well...
@afzaalkhan: U r right tell people stop putting the (Quran ) Alfaz of Quran Subhan u r qualification
Its actually hilarious to the point of being ridiculous that the police of Pakistan is most proficient in registering complaints only against innocent Ahmadis when criminals are running around free in this country. The Holy Quran was sent down as a book for ALL MANKIND just like the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was sent down as a Messenger for ALL MANKIND, just like God is God to ALL MANKIND. It does not take rocket science to comprehend this essential teaching of Islam, oh but wait these brand ambassadors of Islam actually don't know a thing about the religion!
Ahmadis are being given shelter everywhere in the world but their own country and there can't be a more dismal state of affairs. Keep at it and that day isn't far when this country will sink to the lowest pit and coming back from there will be impossible!
We should pray for these kind of people God inai Haydaiyat dai, AMMEEN
Its amazing how the thaikaay-daarz of the "True Islam" are Always busy causing havoc in one way or another! Keep it up.
Instead of writing
“O people of faith always speak the straight truth.”
One must say or write in Pakistan
Always tell a lie.
@Jihad Bil-Qalam:"According to the Quran, Allah is the creator of the entire universe and whatever is in it"
ya,he built the entire universe in 6 days,and raised mountains to support the sky from falling and in the end person responsible for the stupendous act claimed earth is flat....i read that from quaran
Barbarians ! Afghans are more outward looking, tolerant and moderate than Pakistanis. As are the Iranians.
World is celeberating Mars expidition and our fellow Pakistanis are still confused about their own religion. Pakistani is going down to the drain.
Why can't Ahmedis freely practice and profess their religion in Pakistan ? Why can't their place of worship look like whatever they want ? Why can't they claim themselves to be followers of whatever faith, religion they want ? Sane answers please.
a well deserved failed state (Pakistan)
one more feather to the land of pure, quite an heroic act to save islam from the dirty kauffers and some body said it's a religion of peace..lol
this is just sad
I want Pakistan to survive for india's sake.
This is what happens when religion rules a country! Time to go fully secular. To each their own!
We need to concentrate on eudcating our people and uplifting them from poverty not about what religion they have!
these mullahs have nothing better to do!
Wasn't Quran, Islam and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) sent for the whole world, all the people of the earth. What is the problem if some non-Muslim likes our religion.
nice country.
Few months back even a Christian was charged for holding Holy Quran in his hand while giving a sermon on interfaith relationships. I think we don't need any outsider to bring our down fall.
This is height of ignorance, arrogance and brain washed society. Even the posting of translation of Holy Quran has become a crime in Islamic Republic of Pakistan (inna Lillahe wa Inna alaihe rajeon). Now it has become a crime to appreciate or like any part of the Quran or its translation by “non-Muslims”? What an unfortunate situation we have dug into…… May Allah guide us…
@Shayan: What happened to those men that promoted these laws -Zia / Bhutto etc... ? - Allah is the best of planners
@bellal: Inshallah
There is so many interest in Pakistan. We should ask or selves are we a sunni state? If yes then we should not attack other groups we just shall tell others the truht wo this groups are and why there is fatwa on them. We should stand for one opinion and not many. Iran has realized that so many muslim died in the war against shia and sunni. Sunnu and shia can never be an ally. Pakistan should not try to make a mixed system, because one day the system will kill each other. Ofcourse I won't to see muslim ben unit but the case right now in Pakistan is the amy is mixed shia and sunni and so on. But just think if the staring to kill each other?
Outrages! - Pakistan should rename itself Mullahstan
Pakistan is in a shameful state. A nation created on the base of hate is bound to fail due to hate.
How shameful. How can one look inside the heart of a person and see what they believe and dont believe. That should be left to Allah SWT. If the verse from the Quran was put up with love and respect then who is anyone to take it down. Is our faith so weak that we are frightened of so called 'imposters". Live and let live.
@Acorn Guts: Well it's the first part of the ayah where you lack to understand the difference.
Shame on us as a nation.
He should have posted a display " Never speak the truth always lie to your customers " and he would have been a free manAccording to the Quran, Allah is the creator of the entire universe and whatever is in it, and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was sent to the the entire humanity [and not just toward Muslims]. Could someone educate me what is theologically wrong if a non-Muslim wants to take inspiration from the Quran or Hadith without accepting Isalm? I wil greatly appreciate that.
Whatever FAITH anybody is following is his faith. Let him do it. Police dismantled Minarets of Ahmedi Mosque in Kharian, disfigured KALIMA written outside their mosque. Pakistan was made for the Muslims of India. If the Sunni majority of Jamaat Islami wants Pakistan to be 100% Sunni State they should amend the Constitution. ZAB in order to remain in power declared Ahmedis non-Muslims. Then made General Ziaul Haq added some nuts and bolts and made Pakistan and Pakistani nation a religious ridden people. Overdose of religion will lead Pakistan no where in the comity of nations.
Now,where are those religious apologists who say "Islam is for entire humanity and Quran is a message for both muslims and non-muslims"
What if someone catches a Hindu or Christian reading Quran,according to these people's advie and tried for blasphemy for posing as a muslim??
Stop breaking the law and you won't be arrested.
Meanwhile scientists all around the world are celebrated the precision landing of a rover on Mars. Pakistanis are baffled by religion... us usual.
I am sure now Mr Zardari will write letter to.......ummmmm himself?
Just as he wrote to the Burmese President for Rohingyas?
Agony, thy name is Pakistan! It seems that this ordeal has no end.
“O people of faith always speak the straight truth.”
How ugly one has to be to take down something so beautiful? Well I am Ahmadi and have just put up a print-out of this verse with translation high up on my desk.
So, this process of eliminating the people who are less pure is expected to result in a single uber-pure Pakistani couple that will repopulate Pakistan like the Adam and Eve?
As per Section 298-C, an Ahmadi who “refers to his faith as Islam, or preaches or propagates his faith, or invites others to accept his faith, by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representations, or in any manner whatsoever outrages the religious feelings of Muslims” will be punished with up to three years in prison and is liable to pay a fine. Man i fail to understand this. 1. Genetically Pakistanis are not Arabs. 2. Practically every Muslim in Pakistan is a convert of other religion to Islam (and dare i say mostly 'Hindus') due thanks to the Arab invasion of Indian subcontinent at that time. 3. A Pakistani practically never follows the spirit of The Holy Quran but is always busy proving oneself more Muslim than the other fellow around and misinterpreting any/every thing in The Holy Quran. 4. Islam is infact the religion of peace, but i doubt it is practised in Pakistan as 'Peace' in Pakistan's history is for every/any one to see. So, if one were to apply the same statement that has been mentioned here in Section 298-C to all Pakistanis, virtually every Pakistani is a 'Kafir'!! I rest my case with this statement - "Calling oneself a follower of Almighty and actually being one are two different things. The first one is a hypocrite and the second one a true Deciple.
These laws against ahmedis are inhuman!
where is my comment???!
"Jahangir said that “the situation is so bad that I, who do not support the Ahmadi faith but oppose their persecution, have been threatened.”
Anybody who attributes a faith to himself/herself obviously implies that, that person does not support any other faith. Likewise Mrs. Jahangir do not support any other denomination within or outside Islam except her own.
It is courageous of her to say that she opposes the persecution of the Pakistani Ahmadies.
Remember that in the early years of Islam the Holy Prophet (saw) and his followers were persecuted by the disbelievers of Mecca.
I will draw the attention of the Government of Pakistan and the Mullah community to behave like the Prophets of God and not like the opponents.
Dr. Boodhun Canada
What a society. It is ok to convert on live TV but can't put a text on wall. Then claim they are civilized society.
This News piece is very relevant to the above news piece. Myanmar is doing very bad but we are the biggest Hypocrites on the planet. http://tribune.com.pk/story/418708/rohingya-muslims-zardari-writes-letter-to-myanmar-president/
Wow Putting up Quranic Verse in Your Shop is a Blashphemy ???. So now Muslims become the Thekedaars of Islam and Allah. Tomorrow they will charge someone who will say that Muslim's God and my God is same. If this is Real Islam which is propagated in Pakistan where Supposed Non Muslims are not even allowed to touch Quran and they are Considered like Achoots and Dirty people and they cannot even have some verse of Quran erect on the wall then I am better to be without this Kind of Islam and i should better adopt Deism which my most friends are following now a days and they love everybody without Prejudice propagated by others.
Keep doing it. You as a nation just counting days.
The fact remains that Ahmedis pretending to be muslims is against the law. The DPO is right and what he means is that had there been no law we would have more hate crimes against the Ahmeddis by the extremists.
With this level of intolerance, this failed nation will soon cease to exist.