The police raided an alleged Ahmadi place of worship and arrested seven people without registering a FIR against them. PHOTO: FILE
Gulshan-i-Ravi police arrested seven members of the Ahmadi community on Monday after close to 300 people protested in front of what was described as a place of worship of the community.
The police raided an alleged Ahmadi place of worship and arrested seven people without registering a FIR against them.
A woman and her 10-year-old son were also arrested. No lady police officer accompanied them.
However, after two hours of detention, the police released the mother and her child but kept the seven others detained.
Muhammad Usman Awan, a resident of Gulshan-i-Ravi, lodged an FIR late on Sunday which said that an unknown man had entered his house. Awan said on seeing his family, the man left and instead entered a neighbouring house.
He said he called the police and the house next door was raided.
Awan said that the police found that the building was being used as a place of worship by Ahmadis.
He said he told the local clerics who gathered with local residents and protested. He said after the protest, the police arrested the inmates and took them to the police station.
He said those arrested had helped the trespass suspect flee. The police refused to register an FIR on the complaint of Maulana Abdul Aziz who wanted to press blasphemy charges against the Ahmadis.
Investigation Officer Sub Inspector Mumtaz said they registered the FIR under trespass and no one had been nominated. The Investigations Officer claimed no knowledge of the detained Ahmadis.
Muhammad Hasan Muavia, spokesman of the Khatam-i-Nabuwat Lawyers Forum, told The Express Tribune that the police had recovered more than 250 ‘blasphemous’ books from the building. Mauvia said they had been protesting since last night and would continue till an FIR was filed under blasphemy changes.
The Investigation Officer contradicted Muavia and said only four or five books had been found and none of them had any blaspheming material.
Relatives of the detained men told The Express Tribune that the police were asking them to seek forgiveness from the protesting clerics, give an assurance that they would not use the building as a place of worship and cooperate in the arrest of the trespass suspect.
They said they had tried to convince the police that they did not know the suspect, but the police were not convinced.
Munawar Ali Shahid, a member of the Ahmadia community and a human rights activist, said that the incident was part of an on-going anti-Ahmadi campaign.
Shahid said Muavia and his supporters had pressured the police and had registered about five cases against Ahmadis during the last few months.
Shahid added that the government should take solid steps to protect minorities otherwise the extremist elements would make their lives even more difficult.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 30th, 2013.
COMMENTS (11)
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I do not know why the civil society is Pakistan does not react to this 'mobocracy'. Anybody trying to implicate the Ahmadees is obviously given a free hand. Why not strict action is taken against those terrorizing the innocents and creating rifts between communities? The care-taker Government needs to take note of the systematic and planned attacks on Ahmadees, and initiate strong and demonstrable action against the culprits. Then only the menace could be eradicated.
Very sad actually.
Very sad. Now Imran Khan also made derogatory statement in press release against us showing his colors: http://t.co/I1dustVRSl
Shame on such people who don't respect the rights of others. Ahmadis are also human. they are also patriotic to their country, then why such injustice to them ?
I fully edorse the sentiments of Mirza Imran Ahsan. But such words fall on dumb ears. They have eyes but see not; they have ears but they hear not, they have head but they understand not. They have gone made in enemity of Ahmadis to the extent that they do not even care about this that it brings bad name to Islam, a religioun of peace and hamoney. May Allah guide them to see wisdom of Islam, whom they have monopolised as the sole protectors.
Actions of Mullahs didn't match by their words. First they have to correct themselves than looking towards innocent Ahmadies or other communities. They are good for nothing except the flesh and bones. Islam is not their property. So why they make the whole Pak foolish by their extremist, cruel and unjustified attitude. May Allah show them the right path or May Allah take the decision towards their innocent mankind.
Pakistan - a country demanded on the basis of protecting the rights of minorites from the Hindu majority - what a shame for Muslims living in Pakistan. What a shame for people of Pakistan.
I cant believe in this day and age this is still happening to minorities. Disgraceful.
Why dont you speak out , Mr Sethi, the care taker CM.
I am just wondering what is Najam Sethi's response on this clear travesty of justice against the Ahmadiyya community in his city of Lahore. Ahmadis are not even allowed to pray in their own houses and places of worship. Instead of removing the anarchist crowd and protect Ahmadis, they were themselves being arrested. As an Ahmadi just let me tell these Mullahs that we are not afraid of your kind. We are resourceful, disciplined and highly organised community with nearly 100% literacy amongst our members in Pakistan. We stick to our motto “Love for all hatred for none” and will never work against Pakistan and will never react with force or violence, although we practice obedience and discipline of the highest order one can imagine. Our Imams have always promoted peace in the name of Islam taught to us. We know no other Islam. We are the creators of Pakistan alongside Jinnah and supported him by all means possible during the struggle of Pakistan movement. We are the ones who took note of Kashmiri plight and offered help in 1920s and 1930s duly recognised by Allama Iqbal. Your kith and kin Mullahs were always against Pakistan in 1930s and 1940s favouring unified India, and unfortunately till this day they are working against Pakistan’s creation by all such cruel actions harming this great Muslim potential of the world wasted so far.