“We cannot force people to live in peace with Ahmadis if they do not want to,” Chunnia Police SHO Tariq Khan told The Express Tribune on Tuesday.
On March 25 a mob had vandalised the home of an Ahmadi citizen, Maqsood Anjum, in Shamsabad, a village of Kasur. They had also beaten his family and stolen valuables.
Caretaker Chief Minister Najam Sethi has taken notice of the incident and summoned the district police officer on April 1 to be briefed on the incident and the progress in the investigation of the case.
The Express Tribune has learnt that police have asked the nominated suspects to be available at the Chunnia police station if [and when] Sethi sends a special team.
SHO Khan said that two Ahmadi families living among a hostile population of 10,000 would always be vulnerable. A contingent of 20 policemen had been deployed to guard their homes even though the families had left the area on March 26, he said.
Khan said he was trying to get the Ahmadis to settle the dispute with the accused. He said he believed reconciliation would be effected in two days.
Zafar Malik, the complainant’s brother, he said, had not visited the police station since he had filed the complaint on March 26. He said he believed the families did not want to press the case against the accused. Khan admitted however that Malik had refused to withdraw the case initially even though the accused promised to ensure that the families were not harmed in the future.
SHO Khan said he had appeared in front of Sethi along with the DPO and had shared details of the case with him.
Malik said that the SHO had contacted him two days ago chiding him for not staying in contact with the police. “I told the SHO we had filed a complaint and submitted my brother’s medico-legal report and it was [now] his job to take action,” said Malik. The SHO had asked him to consider reconciliation, he said.
“My brother’s family has left the area for the time being as they felt insecure,” Malik said.
A non-Ahmadi neighbour said that the police had asked them to ensure that the nominated accused were available at the police station if the chief minister ever sent a special investigation team. He said they had agreed to do so.
“We would socially boycott the Ahmadis even if a settlement is reached,” he said, “It is best that they have left.” He said he was related to the Ahmadi families but wanted to have nothing to do with them.
International Human Rights Commission Punjab Director General Munawar Ali Shahid visited Shamsabad on Tuesday. He said even though an FIR had been registered and police had been directed to take action, the suspects had not been arrested.
“Several people here have told me that the Ahmadis had been socially boycotted for long. Police have taken no action to stop violence against them,” he deplored.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2013.
COMMENTS (16)
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@Safia:
As long as you and others remain wilfully ignorant - minotities will always suffer at the hands of muslims. Islam does not mean peace - it means "Submit". All over the world where the muslims are in a majority, non-muslims are being killed, forcefully converted, kidnapped, raped etc etc
This is only encouraging the belief that islam is not a religion of peace. Way to go
Thanks to new CM some accountability is now seen.
@Havi Mullahs alone are not to be blamed for the persecution of Ahmadis. Thepolitical elite is also responsible. Was Z. A Bhutto,the most popular politician and a statesman of international standing a Mullah? Was General Zia a Mullah? Are Sharif brothers Mullahs? In a news story published in E.T hinted at role of local MNA in Shamsabad incident when it occurred.
There is a need to change the mindset of the masses about Ahmadies. Each citizen has a right to live in the country peacefully irrespective of his/her belief or creed. This aspect needs to be hammered in the minds of all Pakistanis. Sooner nation can realize it and follow this golden principle atmosphere about each minority will start changing.
With the care taker Government in charge, I find a perceptible difference. The SHO has been summoned by the CM and asked to explain how and why this happened. Some semblance of accountability is now seen. In regard to the SHO washing off his hand and failing to take cocrete steps for protection of the besieged community, the only alternative seems to replace him for irresponsibility and dereliction of duty
A great number of innocent Ahmedis have been targeted in our country and there isn't one person who cares about this. It is a duty to protect the Ahmedis from persecution. These ugly mullahs have spoiled the name of Pakistan continuously. The taliban too is targeting them constantly.
We must devise a strong strategy for the protection of Ahmedis.
With the high crime rate, corruption, and VIP culture, Pakistan is not a safe place for anyone not connected to crime, corruption and VIP culture.
If the SHO is admitting on record, that he cannot bring peace and security within his area. Shouldn't the standard procedure after this statement be that he should be sacked and replaced with someone more competent?
My dilemma. Can a democracy, in such a hate-filled society, really make a difference for better and for good?
This is wrong. Ahmaddies are just other Muslims. The word Islam means 'peace' and this violent behaviour is certainly not showing that. Of you don't agree with Ahmaddies that's ur choice, u don't break into their houses hurt them and steal. That's just putting a bad name on URSELF.
The what is the responsibility of police? They should resign if they can't do it.
The sign of a weak society is when they cant protect the weakest among them. And the worst are those who would not even speak against it. And history is replete with examples of annihilation of such people...Thats how the nature works . So for our own sake, we need to wake up and put an end to this inhumane and totally unIslamic attitude
“We would socially boycott the Ahmadis even if a settlement is reached,” he said, “It is best that they have left.” He said he was related to the Ahmadi families but wanted to have nothing to do with them."
Someone should ask these people why they have this hatred in them. What did Ahmadis do to them?
"peace loving muslims" proving that Islam is peaceful ideology by eliminating anyone who differs. these "peace loving muslims" will soon boycott each other. Mullah Lagaae Rahoo.
“We cannot force people to live in peace with Ahmadis if they do not want to” Yes you can. In fact, that's your job.