Pakistan

Lahore mayhem: Funeral prayers held as toll mounts to 93

Funeral prayers of 40 people killed in Friday's attacks in Lahore was held in Chenab Nagar near Chiniot on Saturday.

Express May 29, 2010

The funeral prayers of 40 people killed in Friday's attacks in Lahore was held in Chenab Nagar area near Chiniot on Saturday while the death toll rose to 93.

A large number of people hailing from the Ahmadi Community attended the burial. A heavy contingent of police personnel was also deployed across the area to avoid any untoward situation.

Moreover, the local authorities have ordered the closure of all trade centres including markets on the occasion.

At least 93 people were killed and over 200 injured as terrorists attacked Friday congregations of the Ahmadis in twin assaults in Lahore.

An FIR has been registered against six terrorists for attacking the worship place of the Ahmedi community in Garhi Shahu, Lahore. Police sources said that the FIR has been lodged under the anti-terrorism act, explosive act, and includes other serious charges.

An FIR into the Model Town attack has not been lodged yet.

Talking to the media, Commissioner Lahore Khusro Pervez said that three suicide bombers in Garhi Shahu and one in Model Town blew themselves up. He said that two terrorists have been arrested from Model Town and a suicide jacket has also been seized from one of them.

The commissioner said that the links of the captured terrorists have not been ascertained yet, though the involvement of India's spy agency RAW can not be ruled out.

Head of Jamaat-e-Ahmedia Mirza Khursheed Ahmed said that the government should provide security to all minorities.

Talking to the media in Chanab Nagar, Khursheed Ahmed termed the attacks in Lahore unfortunate. He said that their community has been receiving constant threats but no security was provided.

Khursheed Ahmed ruled out the involevemnt of foreign elements in the attacks. He added that as citizens of Pakistan, it is the duty of the state to provide them with security.

Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, while talking to Express, said that his ministry sent two alerts to the Punjab government about attacks in Lahore.

The United States has condemned the attacks on the worship places in Lahore.

State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told the reporters in Washington that the attacks are a brutal form of violence against innocent civilians.

Jacques de Maiohas , Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross in South Asia, said that such attacks against civilians are carried out to spread terror. He added that the attacks are highly alarming and unacceptable.

European Union diplomatic chief Catherine Ashton said she was appalled.

COMMENTS (25)

Laila Khan | 14 years ago | Reply At Devsukh, Yes the Ahmadies are saying on bus adverts in London " Love for all, hatred for none." So tell me what is wrong with this attitude? and how does this imply that Ahmdies are better Muslim then others? And for your information, when the holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was attacked to such extent that his life (and his followers) became unbearble in Mecca, the Holy Prophet was forced to leave Mecca and migrate to Medina, because God did not allow him to fight back but to be peaceful and migrate. Thats how peaceful religious movements behave.Ahmadies do not counterattack as they are peaceful. they rather abandon their beloved country,homes, businesses and start a life from scratch in foreign countries who let them live in peace.

devsukh | 14 years ago | Reply Mubarak you said I know nothing.Deny what i wrote is not the truth. Deny this mullah did not go on tv & try to becoime hero.I havr lived in Batala most of my life I know better than you lot about your set up.I suppose you are an asylum seeker but pls. think about others who could not smuggle them selves. Have courage maharaj to accept.One of my friend left your sect so *LOVE FOR ALL" was out of the window

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Mubarak | 14 years ago | Reply Devsukh, you have no idea about what you are saying about Ahmadiyya sect. If you want to offer condolence, we accept that but dont pass comments about you know nothing.

devsukh | 14 years ago | Reply i gave my comments on calling someone shaheed. It is not only muslims we in our religion call shaheed like SHAHEED GHAGAT SINGH, SHAHEED UDHAM SINGH & so on.

devsukh | 14 years ago | Reply I have friends in this ahmedia sect in london. I was told by one friend that whenever the head of this sect or a mullah issue any comments or challange other sects someone in Pakistan is killed in retaliation.Last sunday he told me that one of their mulla Naseem went on foxnews in Americe condemning Taliban & demanded loyalty to America. He was asked by the anchor taht arn't you afraid he anwered in a silly way that he is not. of course he is not afraid sitting in american's lap.My friend was right in beleiving that something will happen soon. This sect is advertising on London buses claming to be the better muslims than others.their head od of sect says these incidents wont stop them. I ask him " has ever his family member had died" No because they all ran away from Pakistan & got setteled in their master's shadow. It is the common man suffering from their leaders hand & at the hands of their opponents.My heart goes for the families of the Shaheeds.I have found a common Ahmedi very gentle & friendly but buried under the forced donations imposed by their leaders

Anwar Ahmad | 14 years ago | Reply @Muhammad Ziad Our social contract is proof of our hypocrisy. In its preamble it guarantees all freedoms for its citizen yet just after couple of pages it takes back all freedom from minorities. Can anyone tell me why despite having joint electorate system, Ahmadis are placed on separate list? Today you have to curse Mira Ghulam Ahmad to prove that you are Muslims, tomorrow you may have to kill someone for becoming a Muslim. Lets admit it that Talibanization is etched in our statute books. You say state is not responsible. State created all this mess. Zia, BB, NS and Musharraf all are responsible for knowingly ignoring nurseries (which still exist all over Pakistan) of terrorism and spread of hatred in society. State is very much responsible for wrong doings of its citizens. By using this logic you give free hand to terrorists allowing them to play with innocent lives.

Mahvesh | 14 years ago | Reply From what Mr. Ziad's saying all over the website, it would appear that being a minority group in this country should make you vulnerable to attacks, there's nothign the state can do about it, and basically you just need to shut up and move on with your life if that happens to you. Ziad, sorry, but your constant arguments comparing this with the plight of the Pukhtuns is in extremely bad taste. I'm a Pukhtun myself but I would've never thought anyone would use someone else's misery to drive home the point that they've been marginalized more. People like you condone hate speech by your bigoted mindsets. And sadly, your 'education' abroad (which you proudly mention somewhere else) has not done anything to instill a sense of humanity in you. Yes, Pukhtuns have had terrible misfortunes - but that DOES NOT mean you prioritize one over the other. You can sympathize with both, you know.

Ali Haider | 14 years ago | Reply When something like this happens WE start fighting among ourselves. Many people commenting on this news are first saying that they are muslim and they think Ahmadis are wrong in their beliefs, and then, that they are sorry about this. Where is your humanity? Does Islam not teach us to protect the minority? Does Islam not teach us to become humans first? Where is the humanity? My question is: Can we not be with the families of the dead in this trying time? Why are we judging them at this time? Are we not told that do not denounce someone's God because in return your God will be denounced? Where are we heading guys? Please, please share your love with the humans. We need it badly!!!

Muhammad Ziad | 14 years ago | Reply @Nitpick , Our Social Contract adds a condition and that is to denounce Mirza Qadiyani. As long as you do that you're granted Citizenship , else you don't get it. Ever been to Passport Office? Read carefully what you Sign on , I declare that Mirza Ghulam Ahmed Qadyani as an imposter and consider his followers as non Muslims. (http://www.pakmission.ca/Forms/Manual%20Passport%20Application.pdf ) Copy of the form. Thus when some minority non Muslim group is targeted by terrorists , there is nothing that the state can do except for being apologetic. Nevertheless, If someone tries to pressurize the state then the State should not bow to these external threats as the State is not responsible for the killings that were carried out by 'terrorists'. Any country in the world right now does not have the power to do so. In India , A Jewish center was attacked in 2008. Was there international pressure that blamed India for failing to protect its citizens? No, because it was understood that India was attacked by Terrorists. Please i request the said community to stop cashing out on such a delegate issue. Issues like calling them Halak and not martyred by the State Media is not how one mourn its dead. Rather one should trust the state and abide by the social contract of being Non muslims and accept that they will not be called Shaheed by the Media which is part of the state.

Farid Ahmad Malik | 14 years ago | Reply @Mohammad Ziad, you have little knowledge of ground realities.Ahmadis don't plead anywhere,they only pray to God. Your information about germans and others is rubbish.I was surprised you didn't write israel there since you,my brother,dont know the ground realities. The very fact that you think that ahmadies are favoured is hilarious.Had they been favoured Dr. Abdus salam would have been regarded as the greatest scientist pakistan has produced.Major science institutions would be named after him. But here,caste comes first ,country second.

Nitpick | 14 years ago | Reply As a Pakistani -- whatever my religion is -- I am ashamed that we as a nation have failed to protect our citizens, irrespective of their religious identities. The basic social contract between the state and its citizen stipulates that all citizens are equal. When citizens belonging to a "different" faith, colour, langauge, etc. than "ours" are discriminated, the state-citizen social contract becomes weaker. I believe that this incident provides us a chance of revisiting the very idea of creation of Pakistan. All of us believe that Pakistan was essentially created for the protection of Muslim minority in the British India. Just imagine -- a country created for a minority group which treats its minorities badly.

farhan | 14 years ago | Reply Now, that the IG punjab spokesman has revealed that all the terrorists were from Tehreek Taliban PAkistan (TTP), where is the shortsighted commissioner lahore who dragged RAW in friday's incident? I agree with you guys that blaming RAW is no option before us. It is high time for our religious parties to come forward, denounce Taliban and all their supporters who directly or indirectly supports these barbarians of middle age Europe. Now, Nawaz Sharif brothers should come up and support government in eradicating the terrorists hide outs in border regions as well as in cities.

unknown | 14 years ago | Reply "Chenab Nagar area"???? Its RABWAH!!!!!!!!!! Allah will punish every single person who is behind this scene INSHALLAH!!!

Muhammad Ziad | 14 years ago | Reply @Ammara Talking about throughout the 70's till now. They have even pleaded to the British,Germans,Ngos etc. Everyone prays...the Pakhtuns that have been massacred throughout the British Era, by the Us and by Pakistan, also pray and not plead at any doors. They don't even get Visa's easily nor have proper community or representatives for their rights in foreign countries. Nevertheless, you have claimed the authorities take action on behalf of the Ahmedis. Then i guess you don't have anything to complain about since the Authorities are giving your community more rights than a normal Pakistani citizen who is given the 'right' of citizenship only on the basis of declaring Your community as Non-Muslims and Mirza Ghulam Ahmed as a fraud and liar.

danish | 14 years ago | Reply i am not an Ahmadi because i believe that Holy Prophet Muhammad(peace and blessing of ALLAH be upon him) is the last and final prophet and Jesus Christ(peace and blessing of ALLAH be upon him) is yet to come back on the earth...................but having said that i believe that this incident should not have taken place.No innocent person should be killed so it was an unfortunate incident......As far as,the blood of the killed persons is concerned ,it is not in the hands of the Pakistanis because we believe that Ahmadis are not Muslims and a non-Muslim can not be a "SHAHEED"and their place of worship can not be called as "MOSQUE" so don't say that.

Ammara Nasir | 14 years ago | Reply @ Muhammad Ziad: 1) Yes Ahmadis are generalized. It's true. 2: They haven't really pleaded at the Court doors..at the President’s door, at the Parliament! The media has been exaggerating. We Ahmadis pray! We don't go out and create havoc and "demand" the authorities to take action or whatever it is that the authorities do.

Sana Ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply there is no external hand........How easily they blame on others..!!! Inshallah this country will repay for every drop of blood that has shed in this blasts!!!

Tanzeel | 14 years ago | Reply I don't see any Indian involvement behind those attacks, as long as we are damaging ourselves why would India intervene. Unfortunately I can still see some Taliban sympathizers who support Ahmedis killings. . Its high time we start recognizing Ahmedis as Muslims so that the seed sown by Bhutto could stop spreading hatred and self destruction.

Muhammad Ziad | 14 years ago | Reply @ the Mods = There should be a rule to stop the generalizations, as per Amna's comment, it is based on pure hate and misleading saying of the Prophet SAW . @ Amna, i have never come across any part of the society where the hatred against the Ahmadiya community is being fabricated or even discussed. I live in karachi , perhaps it might be different in the areas you live but it is a false notion that only the Ahmadiya community is generalized. Please spread your hate elsewhere regarding Mullahs (literally translated as 'those who guide about ALLAH') and quote reference to the saying of Prophet SAW. I don't believe this . The very prove regarding favors to Ahmadiya community can be seen here, if i would mention any comment with the Prophet SAW saying then it will be moderated and deleted. Yet , your misleading saying stays. I can complain discrimination regarding my sect since the creation of Pakistan. Also , if i was happen to be a Pakhtun then the government has been killing us and people associating us with taliban in every walks of life is so common that no Humanitarian organization sympathizes with. They would instead bring about complains about Polio Campaigns which is a Right of the Pakhtuns to Deny or Accept , nevertheless.. it is forced upon them. Also, talk about the minority Balochis who have been discriminated against. Yes , indeed two wrongs don't make one right but do understand that there is no conspiracy regarding the Ahmadiya community...everyone has been targeted in these terrorists attack waves in Pakistan. Just to enlighten you , even the taliban takes ALLAH's name and the likes of Benazir and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto are called Shohada. These are just words , they don't necessarily defines hatred. Nevertheless, your complaint should be registered to the media authorities who do not name those killed from Ahmadiya community as Shaheed, they should favor the community .. i don't understand how that would bring the dead ones to life unless we really mean that Shaheed's don't die in which case we can only pray 'May ALLAH accept his Martyrdom' as it is upon ALLAH to accept not Humans. In the end , the Ahmadis have pleaded at the Court doors..at the President's door, at the Parliament , at the doors of the Mullahs so i guess , it is right time to turn to ALLAH. After so many of your complains are unheard for. Please also understand i don't hate Ahmadiya, no one does and no one has the right to complain that his sect is targeted the most which is not the case. However, the point is how was your quoting of the Prophet SAW accepted in these comments?

Sultan Ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply I am sure, and every one living in this country and have some political sense will come to the conclusion that this act is a planed and mediated conspiracy against Pakistan's integrity and solidarity and security as well. In the first instance,they started with us on borders thereafter in side the cities and now trying to instigating a sect which has large and powerful to fight against each others. In fact they want civil war and unrest inside the country that is a their last strategy God willing it would also be failed . Pakistan will be secure ,no satanic power on the earth can harm Pakistan, In the last i would like to say my Pakistani brother remain peaceful and face the challenges, that are essential in the nation's history which make us more strong .

Faryal Tahir | 14 years ago | Reply You know linking it with India's plan to mess the celebrations of 28th May is the lamest of what I have been hearing. That's why RAW is being mentioned.

Nadir El Edroos | 14 years ago | Reply Default response: The commissioner said that the links of the captured terrorists have not been ascertained yet, though the involvement of India’s spy agency RAW can not be ruled out. If no links have been ascertained why is there a need to mention RAW and India at all?

Amna | 14 years ago | Reply Pakistan today is the ashamed owner of a 'Monster' it has created bit by bit since the Blasphemy law. Hatred against ahmadis is fabricated in every thread of the society. In schools, in workplaces and even in hospitals. All these voices are just noises! These screams should have been raised when the 298b Blasphemh Law was passed! These people should have been appauled when the only Pakistanj Nobel prize winner (Dr Abdus Salam an Ahmadi) was forced to leave his country and establish a Physics institue elsewhere, These people should have been shocked when an American Qualified Doctor running a free hospital in Sindh was shot dead. 2009 claimed 11 Innocent Law abiding Peaceful lives, lives that contributed immensly to the Society. The truth is the Maulvis and Mullahs have sold religion, As Prophet pbuh said 'The Maulvis of the later says will be the worst of the creation under the skies' Oh how it aches to know Allah's name wa being recited when the Shohodas laid their lives for His sake. There is blood on the hands of everyone who calls an Ahmadi mosque 'A place of worship' there is blood of the hands of every one who calls the Shaheeds 'Jaanbahak' There is blood on the hands of every Pakistani! But an Ahmadi will only plead at one door, Allah's so God be with us.

shahzad raza | 14 years ago | Reply IM SO SHOKED THAT THIS HAS HAPPEN .

Sohail Fazal | 14 years ago | Reply Although I do not belong to the Ahmadi community, still I feel their loss and sympathise with them profoundly. This incident is not about religous intolerence , this is another in a series of attempts to destabilise Pakistan and damage its reputation.

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