Pakistan

Police remove anti-Ahmadi posters from Lahore's largest IT market

#IStandWithAhmadis began trending across social media as signs and posters were removed

Imran Adnan December 11, 2015

#IStandWithAhmadis began trending across social media as signs and posters were removed. PHOTO: TWITTER

LAHORE: The district administration in Lahore on Thursday removed anti-Ahmadi posters and stickers from the city's largest mobile and computer equipment market.

Numerous shopkeepers in Lahore's Hafeez Centre, located in the Gulberg locality, displayed signs and stickers prominently on their shop windows, inscribed with statements such as, "We do not do business with Ahmadis" or "Ahmadis are not allowed".

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"Most Ahmadis do not disclose their identity," former president of the Hafeez Centre, Malik Kaleem said, while confirming that some shopkeepers had displayed such messages on their shops and offices as part of their belief.

District Coordination Officer Lahore spokesperson Imran Maqbool said the action is a part of the city district government's larger drive against removing publicity signs and stickers.

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"It is an ongoing campaign in connection with local government elections," he said.

Maqbool added, "The city government was removing unwanted signs and stickers from the provincial capital to make the city beautiful.”

The action, however, is most likely linked to the social media outrage that unraveled on Twitter and Facebook after pictures of the posters first surfaced a few days ago. The hashtag #IStandWithAhmadis is trending now on Twitter with many lauding the efforts of the Punjab government for having the signs removed.

@Razarumi thank you for pointing it out. DCO Lahore took a prompt action and got it removed immediately @theRealYLH pic.twitter.com/guFGwLLr2b
— Punjab 2013-18 (@Punjab13to18) December 10, 2015

.@ehmadkarim hashtag #IStandWithAhmadis denotes that: Supporting their full rights as Pak citizens inc freedom of worship! @ali_abbas_zaidi
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) December 10, 2015

Government of Punjab has removed the sticker. Thanks to @Razarumi (roomie) /#IStandWithAhmadis pic.twitter.com/5aaeHZh3Y9
— Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi (@Ali_Abbas_Zaidi) December 10, 2015

#IStandWithAhmadis
becoz OTHERWISE I
will be standing
against the peaceful
teacings of Islam.
— ابن سعید (@aamir_asa_) December 11, 2015

#IStandWithAhmadis Our political parties R cowards & do not have courage to take a stand against mullah mafia.
— Faisal Naseer (@fnakhi) December 11, 2015

#IStandWithAhmadis Love for All, Hatred for None is a great slogan...I stand with Ahmadis
— Muazam Qudoos (@MuazamQudoos) December 11, 2015

#IStandWithAhmadis because we believe in peace, live & let live .
— lajawab (@la_jawab) December 11, 2015

#IStandWithAhmadis Because we spread Love n peace around the world by establishing mosques. pic.twitter.com/BCFhGvWDAx
— Qurrotul Aini (@iinqa_mail) December 11, 2015

https://twitter.com/mrmalic/status/675140333378920448

Well done all those who spoke up and reported it, and @GovtOfPunjab for taking action #IStandWithAhmadis #Pakistan https://t.co/kTISEyzPXi
— beena sarwar (@beenasarwar) December 10, 2015

#IStandWithAhmadis 'cause why wouldn't I??
— Maliha Mansoori (@MalihaMansoori) December 10, 2015

I salute those brother and sisters who joined us with #IStandWithAhmadis trend, may God bless you and reward you for your courage n support
— Afzal Mirza (@AfzalMirza51) December 11, 2015

COMMENTS (22)

Jaggu | 8 years ago | Reply @Iqbal: are you Iqbal or Ramdas?

Gen Pasha ret. | 8 years ago | Reply Well done - A step in the right direction

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Iqbal | 8 years ago | Reply What would these shopkeepers say if we had signs in the West which said: “We do not do business with Muslims” or “Muslims are not allowed”? Is this a case of "what goes around comes around"?

Bastille | 8 years ago | Reply If these shopkeepers are so biased then they should have chosen some other means of earning bread. It does not become a businessman to behave in that manner.

sabi | 8 years ago | Reply @sabi: (fake) "Our standards of tolerance are lower than yours. You declare yourself secular republic. We declare ourselves Islamic republic" I dont know why you use my moniker to post your comment.I dont agree with it.

Imran Ahmed | 8 years ago | Reply It is high time that the police was instructed to arrest law breakers without it having to wait for a complainant to register a FIR.

sabi | 8 years ago | Reply @Malatesh Our standards of tolerance are lower than yours. You declare yourself secular republic. We declare ourselves Islamic republic.

Kfaisal | 8 years ago | Reply @Imran Qadri. A shop is not a private place like a home. Its a public place and entry can be disallowed only for security reasons. Thats the law.

bigsaf | 8 years ago | Reply @Imran Qadri: White racists used this 'private property' argument too in banning black citizens from their stores. That societal discrimination and hate is what the fuss is. If it were majority non-Muslim Americans doing the same banning to minority American Muslims at their stores, you'd be up in arms...

Sychh | 8 years ago | Reply @Imran Qadri: when Americans ban Muslims from entering their shops it's guys like you who share the image and feel sorry for your brothers. Why not show the same courtesy for others?

sabi | 8 years ago | Reply @Imran Qadri: Yes that can be done..but then that state is called fascist state and have no right to complain if outside world alienates with that state. Well done pmln.

What? | 8 years ago | Reply A good step but somewhat ruined by this cowardly statement. Maqbool added, “The city government was removing unwanted signs and stickers from the provincial capital to make the city beautiful.”

aamir | 8 years ago | Reply the action has been taken in connection with implementation of NAP. it was decided on 24th December 2014 that spread of hate material will not be allowed.however, removal of stickers in the name of city's beauty shows apathetic attitude of government to implement consensus based declaration of APC. further, insincerity on the part of civilian government to implement NAP in letter and spirit..

FoY | 8 years ago | Reply @Hameed Ever heard the word diplomacy? things don't change overnight. But this is happened for good. Trying to change things overnight would only cause chaos, which is exactly what has always happened in the past.

Imran Qadri | 8 years ago | Reply On a private property(like these mobile shops) anyone can be banned or barred from entry if owner isn't comfortable with them or doesn't want to interact with them. Why the fuss is being created?

Bisma | 8 years ago | Reply Well done

R.A | 8 years ago | Reply

ALLAH  O AKBAR
A tiny but good step

Adeel | 8 years ago | Reply Well done Punjab police and government. A good step towards humanity. Please build on this and slowly eliminate more factors which constitute to sectarianism.

Hameed | 8 years ago | Reply

Maqbool added, “The city government was removing unwanted signs and stickers from the provincial capital to make the city beautiful.”

So they accept its not due to hate speech crime but just a general clean-up. No credit to them then.

Hameed | 8 years ago | Reply Was anyone prosecuted? If not then where is the deterrence against such acts in future. This is just hogwash and PR stunt.

Malatesh | 8 years ago | Reply They are lecturing India when only one among 20 million Muslims didn't get job in one of the diamond shop.

Javed | 8 years ago | Reply Well done Punjab Police.

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