In the fifth such incident within a couple of months, another Ahmadi family bore the brunt of growing religious intolerance as one of their members was shot dead while his father, brother and father-in-law were lucky to escape injured in a targeted attack in Baldia Town.
The family was heading home after prayers from a worship place near their house when four armed assailants on two motorcycles fired a volley of bullets at them near Dakkhana Chowrangi.
Saad, 25, who was on his motorcycle, was killed while his father Farooq, 55, brother Hammad, 23, and father-in-law Nusrat, 50, who were in the car, were injured.
Despite being shot five times, Farooq continued to drive the car and managed to reach Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where his young son died while the injured were shifted to Aga Khan University Hospital. Their condition was stated to be critical.
Farooq owns a business of generators and his son Saad was an electrical engineer. Only two days ago, Saad had had his valima reception. Hammad was to leave for England a day after to pursue his MBA degree.
Two relatives of Farooq were also with him in the car but escaped unscathed. “The car had slowed down due to a speed breaker when we were fired at from the front and both sides,” Farooq’s brother-in-law Ashraf, an agriculturist from Punjab told The Express Tribune. “I ducked for cover when the firing started but when I looked out, there was no one outside.”
Since September, government schoolteacher Abdul Ghaffar, police constable Mohammad Nawaz, general store owner Mohammad Ahmad and another man named Naveed have been targeted but police have not found any breakthroughs.
Terming it communal violence, SP Baldia division Shahjahan Khan said that the police were trying to establish the link between the latest and the previous attacks on Ahmadis. “We have to ascertain whether the same group or individuals are behind the killings.”
“As there was adequate security at the worship place, the family was targeted on their way home by the attackers,” the SP added.
Frequent attacks on Ahmadis are an attempt to harass the community, especially by hurting them economically, Jamaat Ahmadiyya spokesperson Masood Khan told The Express Tribune.
He alleged that the police and government are doing nothing practically to secure their lives. Only saying that the lives of Ahmadis are at risk and deploying some policemen at pickets or patrolling is not enough, he added.
No case has been registered.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 20th, 2012.
COMMENTS (59)
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May Allah protect our country from such monsters and help us achieve a peaceful country where everyone can coexist in harmony. Love for all Hatred for none.
The level of intolerance in our society is growing by the hour. In the past the intolerance was attributed to the illiterate but today this has become a widespread phenomenon. We need to realize that those targeting the minorities will start from the weakest and move onto the strongest minority with time; untill they think the only ones left are them, only them the self-proclaimed special ones. We need to stand up today before its too late!
its extremely tragic this intolerance in religion is due to the lesser knowledge of the holy prophet (pbuh) teachings and against the true islam which teaches us that the killing of one person is the killing of humanity. It is totally inhumane and people of that area instead of condemning this act are celebrating this shows how the religious intolerence has made this society heart less and are demanding the wrath of Allah the almighty collectively.
I dont think this blog will change anything but one thing is for sure now this area will never be peaceful and the whole society will suffer for sure as is the Allah's wish on them who not only endorse this act but also are the part of this islamic fundamentalism which is rejected by Allah..
I am at a loss of words to express my shock and horror over the killing of yet another innocent life. The killing is being orchestrated in the name of our religion of peace and for the love of Holy Prophet who was made rehmat (blessing) not only for Muslims but for all the worlds. Our so called Islamic Republic should have had those killing stopped and the culprits brought to book if we really would like to be portrayed as a true Muslim country. I guess I would be living in fool’s paradise even to think about this happening, and I should not be expecting it as we as a society have reached to a level of insensitivity that where we are not bothered about waste of a human life and that of an Ahmadi or Shia or Chrisitan. We are moving really fast to a point of no return where the society is completely immersed in hate, ignorance, prejudice and narrow-mindedness.
May God have mercy on us!
The scared fraction of society is acting violently against peace loving people. Even after suffering from such atrocities the people of Ahmadya Community are always praying to Allah for justice These followers of path of blood and killing are no humans and Justice will be done by Allah. Salamz N Salutes to Saad Shaheed!
May Allah bless saad's family and relatives with patience and strength to bear this terrible loss. Ameen! May Allah expunge all these savage beasts who have gone astray and are killing innocent ahmadies. Ameen!
May Allah bless them best place in heaven (ameen).
@Jat: What will that mean......
the only and best way out for us to keep our selves more and more close to Allah Ta'ala ,with heavy heart no more to say......
I still can't beleive that the society lost this great human being who is among very few best people this society ever produced. Saad I love you and will remember you forever as the best human being I have ever met.
It is time we understood that mixing religion and politics is bound to lead to the kind of results we are witnessing today.
Inna lillAllahe wa inna alehe rajeuon good job Fraz khan jazakallah
@ True Pakistani "My religion dose not teach such action"
Really?
What type of person does it take to aimlessly go around and kill random people? Is this what Islam has taught us? Is this the lesson we learnt from looking at the example of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)? I would beg to differ. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was "Rahmatulil Aalameen" (Mercy for all creatures) and as His followers, we need to follow in His footsteps, not some back alley Mullah who learnt Islam from the back of a cereal box. WAKE UP PAKISTAN AND DON'T LET THESE SATANIC PEOPLE DISTRACT YOU FROM THE TRUE AND PEACEFUL MESSAGE OF ISLAM.
@Rizwan, Good points. Not many tears, including ahmedi tears are shed when shia gets massacred daily or baloch mother lose their young boys to the security agency!
@AnisAqeel:
You said "......the shaheed is already guaranteed a lofty place in paradise without any doubt."
But why not give a lofty place in paradise to the killers - NOW , ABHI KE ABHI
Kallu Mama
Hy'bad, India
@Athar Chattha:
Very brutal and cruel words for your own brothers - but who cares ??
Kallu Mama Hy'bad, India
followers of "religion of piece" strike again?
No one in this whole world can really condemn this killing unless had he known the Brilliant, Sweet, Loving, Humble, Kind, Hardworking, Enthusiastic, Lively, Wonderful, Peace-Loving, Lending-Out-a-Helping-Hand Type, Ambitious, Polite, Upright, High-on-moral, Sincere, Honest, Trustworthy, Courteous, Cultured, Sophisticated & Refined Youngman known as Saad Farooq. Only those who ever had a chance to interact with this Lovely Creation of Almighty Allah, know what they are going to miss the rest of their lives. Alas, rest of the society does not even know what they have lost. Alas .... ALAS !!!!
But congratulations to the whole society of ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF ISLAM. You silenced another sweet nightingale, who was not doing any harm to anyone, was rather playing every possible positive role in this terrible society. All are equally responsible in this brutal act - those who pulled the triggers and those who remained silent (or would remain silent), those who had 'strategic' reasons to keep quiet and those who might be feeling happy on the martyr of another Ahmadi.
When this unfortunate society would ever ever ever realize or understand that not flashing water with all possible strengths is bringing this horrible fire closer and closer to their own homes, and soon (rather VERY SOON) they and their own loved ones would be burnt to ashes in these horrifying blazing flames of hatred, bigotry, deception, self-centered-ISM. Apparently there is no hope in near future.
But whenever THIS Day comes, the loving people like Saad Farooq would be nowhere around. But their sweet and loving memories would always cherish our days and nights till the last day of our own lives. For sure they all will smile on us from Paradise to see what the sacrifices of their blood has achieved ONE DAY. May THAT DAY come quicker and sooner, Aameen.
I hang my head with shame. My religion dose not teach such action. This act of "Zulum" is an act by ignorant & misguided people, who think they are doing service to Islam... Bigger Shame on our Religious & Political Leaders who remain dumb when ever minorities are attached.
@Syed: Which world are you living in ????????? These are the poor Ahmadies - not supported by any walk of life in Pakistan. The pure land painting its own hands with blood of innocents.. Alas!! but no one can see what is the destiny ...
The pulling down of Ahmadi minarets, the desecration of graves, the destruction of inscribed verses, the ban on worshiping in mosques and the amendment in constitution of Pakistan and the KILLING of innocent ahmaddis in a islamic country.............In india LAND OF HINDU FANATICS ahmaddis lead a respectable life....................STRANGE..VERY STRANGE
Killing of Ahmadies has now become routine in this country. Ahmadiyya life seems to be cheaper than any other commodity. Man killed was just married. What horrible plight the spouse will suffer is unthinkable. Tolerance for each other has almost vanished in the society. Even societal check and balances are also missing. Mind set of each Pakistani needs an overhaul. Each segment of society has to play its role. However it looks whole nation is without any goal and real leader just existing aimlessly on this planet.
This country needs complete cleanup of religious extremism if we want to exist and follow the ideals of Jinnah for his efforts. May this Shaheed's family get peace of mind and the shaheed is already guaranteed a lofty place in paradise without any doubt.
@huzaifa:
what we will do with the white portion of Pakistani flag???
Have you run out of Green paint or what?
@Asad: you seem to think minorities in Pakistan have it no worse than the majority - surely you don't think the world believes that?
if Ahmedis want to live equally with the rest of Pakistanis then this sad incident although deserves as much condemnation as in case of any other innocent person getting killed but no extraordinary coverage then rest of those thousand of incidents. reason being when you raise issues against Ahmedis in much high pitch voice it raises eyebrows of even neutral minds. behave like other Pakistanis who are killed in dozens of numbers everyday yet find no coverage in national media, then only you can expect to be treated like rest of them. I am just talking about psychological aspects of the matter.
We are heading to total death and destruction. The the majority are too brain-washed to stop it.
@huzaifa: You would turned them into black! leaving no sign for white (peace) and making darkness forever ...
What hurt me most is when most religious and political leaders go deaf and dumb whenever there is an attack on Ahmadis What C.J says after his recent speech at Lahore.May Almighty Allah receive the departed soul in his infinite mercy.
This country needs a serious separation of religion and state! The sooner we start seeing our countrymen as Pakistanis, rather than Sunni, Shia, Ahmedi, Christian or Hindu, the better off we will be. It should be enough that 'Muslims' are a majority of this land and can do as they please when it comes to religion, no need to go and 'impose' themselves on minorities who do nothing to offend the main religion of the land. Let everyone practice their beliefs in peace and let Allah be the judge of each person's deeds when the time comes! Our religion requires us to preach and be just, and not attack others unless they attack you first. Sadly, most of these criminals forget this very easily.
No case has been registered.
doesn't it feel like a slap on our cheeks?
As it is also a political issue, why does no politician stand up for this? No condemning? No nothing.
Shame on us... we can't even protect the people that belong to this land and have centuries old association with it.
@Imad Pirzada: "i dont know how everyone make their mind that this killing is because of their religious beliefs, maybe this could be the outcome of some personal issues or business problems"
How brazenly convenient ! The pulling down of Ahmadi minarets, the desecration of graves, the destruction of inscribed verses, the ban on worshiping in mosques and the amendment in constitution of Pakistan - all are due to some personal issues or business problems.
Shame on you.
@Indian Wisdom: "……………………and Pakistan was established to safeguard the interests of minority community!!!!!"
Sir, Pakistan was established to safeguard the interests of feudal lords and the "divide and rule" policy of gora imperialism.
To Allah we belong and to Him we return.
........................and Pakistan was established to safeguard the interests of minority community!!!!!
Cowards, militant intolerants and religio-criminals do such un-Islamic acts.
We need a malala-like response in support of Ahmadis
IMO, all of Pakistan will be charged on Judgement Day for standing by when these killings occurred. All of Pakistan will be found guilty and not just these Taliban types. None of us actually stood up to these savages. One girl did and we gush over her bravery. But now, it is back to cowardice as usual. I feel ashamed.
i dont know how everyone make their mind that this killing is because of their religious beliefs, maybe this could be the outcome of some personal issues or business problems @Dr AK Tiwar.. asecular India:S Gujrat Riots?? huh??
I am sick of reading all these killing, and sick of reading how we have strayed from Jinnah's ideals. It's the same old story rehashed again and again while the killings continue. I thought Malala's attempted murder was supposed to galvanize the country, but alas our outrage has abated and our appeasement of the mullahs continue...
Such killing will continue till the Islamic republic will exist . It is the cost Pakistan is paying for its separation from the secular India . People of Kashmir should realize the mistake committed by muslims under the leadership of Jinnah .
Virkaul : Not surprising at all. If possible another conspiracy theory will be spun.
Hats off to ET for making this a cover story. The subject is a stigma and no politician (with MQM a noble exception) is willing to talk about this. Thanks, ET.
One more innocent Muslim enters paradise. May Allah bless him and his family.
I strongly condemn the killing of innocents in Karachi. When daily almost 10 people are being killed there is a possibility that a Hindu, Christian, or Ahmedi or any one from minority gets killed which is obviously not acceptable but media portrays it as if only these minorities are unsafe in Pakistan. What about the rest of the people who are killed on the same day? Are they not human???
Unacceptable No actions nor any reaction from government officials yet? Strongly condemn this religious killings
Inna lillAllahe wa inna alehe rajeuon May Allah reward that young boy highest status in heaven ameen who got martyred Just because of his religious belief
Outrage!
May Allah grant the shaheed a place in heaven and may He visit the perpetrators with the severest of afflictions.
@huzaifa: what we will do with the white portion of Pakistani flag???
You can always paint it black.
Surprisingly, I see no one condemning this attack.
Why can't we muslims understand that if we kill all minorities or compel them to flee, what we will do with the white portion of Pakistani flag???
RIP & May ALLAH give kamila shifa to the injured people.