Pakistan

Police accused of ‘desecration’ of Ahmadi worship place in Gujranwala

NCHR, HRCP take notice of alleged demolition of minarets by law enforcers owing to religious outfits’ pressure

Mohammad Shahzad December 12, 2022

Representative image. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE

LAHORE:

The National Commission of Human Rights (NCHR) and Human Right Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Monday took notice of the alleged demolition of minarets of an Ahmadi place of worship in Gujranwala.

Media reports, quoting representatives of the Ahmadi community, said that local police demolished the minarets last Wednesday after being pressured by some religious outfits.

As per the report, the Gujranwala administration held a meeting with the representatives of the Ahmadi community to sort out the matter. However, they were told there was "no alternative" but to remove the minarets as "passions were running high in the city and things might get out of control".

The NCHR has taken notice of alleged demolition of minarets of an Ahmadi worship place in Gujranwala by police, a statement from the human rights organisation said today.

NCHR has taken suo moto notice of the recent desecration of an Ahmadi place of worship in Gujranwala #MinorityRights @RabiyaJaveri pic.twitter.com/ArwFQhOzLt
— National Commission for Human Rights (@nchrofficial) December 12, 2022

It said that the community alleged that at midnight three days back, police vans came outside the place, closed down the roads, demolished the establishment built at the front door and while leaving took away debris with them.

HRCP, in its statement, said that the recent ‘desecration’ of an Ahmadi worship place in Gujranwala is not only a grave violation of the community's fundamental rights, but also contravenes the very spirit of the 2014 Tasadduq Jillani judgement.

The recent desecration of an Ahmadi worship place in Gujranwala is not only a grave violation of the community's fundamental rights, but also contravenes the very spirit of the 2014 Tasadduq Jillani judgement. pic.twitter.com/JigvlIIH2V
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) December 11, 2022

"The state's failure to protect its Ahmadi citizens from persecution is no less concerning. Its participation and complicity in this persecution demands an immediate inquiry followed by redressal," it further said.