Ahmadis criticise govt inaction over targeted killings
Ahmadis are completely at the mercy of assassins who are targeting and killing them with impunity and police and other law-enforcement agencies were doing nothing to thwart their actions, the secretary of the Faisalabad chapter of the Jama’at Ahmadiyya said in a letter sent to foreign missions and top government functionaries.
Syed M Mahmood, the secretary of the organisation’s general affairs, said that he had “sent a letter (containing) forewarnings regarding the plight of the Ahmadiyya community in Faisalabad”, but no action was taken on it.
The letter was dispatched to the Human Rights Watch, the Asian Human Rights Commission, US embassy in Islamabad, the British High Commission and the embassies of France, Germany, Belgium, Canada, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, Islamabad.
He said that several victims, including Laeeq Ahmed, who was a member of the local chapter of the Jama’at Ahmadiyya, were brutally murdered in public, but police was trying to look the other way.
Citing the example of Laeeq Ahmed’s murder, he said: “It is shocking to know that neither the empties in the car were taken into the possession by the police nor the car was examined.”
According to him, another Ahmadi, Naseem Ahmad Butt became the victim of a targeted killing, but his killers were “roaming free” and asking about the whereabouts of his brother.
He reminded that “both the killings (occurred) in the constituency of the controversial Punjab law minister, Rana Sanaullah, who sides with the extremist groups”.
Expressing his frustration, he said: “We cannot continue to see our dear ones murdered with impunity. I have no option but to send this report also to world organisations on human rights, to different embassies, to show them the disintegration and complete collapse of law and order in Punjab. We (fear) that this (city) might become a second Karachi.”
This letter was also sent to the governor of Punjab, the provincial home secretary, additional secretary (home), IG police, additional IG, RPO Faisalabad, CPO Faisalabad, SSP (Operations) Faisalabad and DCO Faisalabad,
In another letter sent to foreign missions in Islamabad and law-enforcement authorities, the Ahmadiyya community also protested over what they termed forced rustication of three female students from the National Textile University (NTU) in Faisalabad because of their faith.
It was pointed out, “NTU Faisalabad has become the hub of…extremist and militant groups”.
“There has been a planned subversion of all the decent norms of an educational institution. The target has been the Ahmadiyya Community and the weaker Ahmadi female students”.
“So much so, that all the female students had to leave the NTU Faisalabad. Their educational careers were abandoned midway. Moulvis were imported (to the campus) who harangued the students against the Ahmadiyya Community in such an abusive language which defies definition”.
The letter pointed out, “The parents of the students have been approaching the rector of the NTU Faisalabad, but he showed his inability to control the situation”.
“Even the magazine of the NTU, Faisalabad, exhorts that all Ahmadis should be killed.
“This is not a textile university, this is the killing factory of the Taliban.”
“This university, hotbed of extremism, should have no affiliation with any other educational institutions in the world. Otherwise, the name of other decent educational institution will be sullied.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 10th, 2011.
COMMENTS (52)
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@Muhammad Umar Farooq: But Umar as mentioned in the artical that there is hate material published in the university magzine . what it mean?How this hate material publish with out the permission of board if the univerty is neutral? what you think . when some thing publish about The Muslims abroad and the people hate The Muslims . I know what the conditions are abroad for Muslims.
@AA Choudhary:
Dear, fact is fact, the Parliament decided it, and Supreme Court validated it, so its legal. All the prominent ulemas of that time were united on this issue that ahmedis should be declared non-Muslims in Pakistan. Rest assured, the action was completely Islamic, Hafeez Pirzada's past we all know.
@ARG Yahya Bakhtiar was a lawyer, not a religious scholar. I have read his arguments. He gave arguments to get a verdict which his client Bhutto wanted and not based upon truth. Read what Hafiz Pirzada said about the decision after the arguments. He said on TV that it was a political decision. Bhutto was not a just liberal. He wanted to remain in power and his hunger for power was the cause of Pakistan being broken. He did not want to cede power to the democratically elected Mujib ur Rahman. Please turn to justice and equity as the Quran says. Forget about these phoney debates. Pakistan is in danger. From all sides doom is glaring and blazing upon it. When will the Pakistanis repent and follow the Quran and not their unIslamic ways?
@AA Choudhary:
You should read the cross-questioning by Yahya Bakhtiyar, your views on ahmedis will change. I wonder, didnt liberal Bhutto have the resolution passed.!
@ Muzammal Hussain You are right. It is in the constitution. But then please say that 'everybody is not free what they do. Say they have the follow the constitution'. Now where it is written that you can persecute those people who follow the constitution. You know that Ahmadis don't pray in public. They have cordoned off their mosques. Even they censor their public writings volutarily and do not write 'kalima' or 'darood' because the constitution prohibits them to say that 'there is no God but Allah' or 'O Allah, send blessings upon prophet Muhammad'. They do it privately just to make you feel better. In spite of this when you make the life of Ahmadis miserable in educational institutions and force them to quit because of your taunts, insinuations and threats then is it also constutional? In the U.S., and Canada if any non-Muslim says Kalima or praises the Prophet Muslims welcome him. What type of people are you that you can't hear Allah's and His Prophet's praises sung? And as to your giving the Ahmadis a chance to explain to the Assembly their point of view, I have a comment. General Zia-ul-Haq the self styled protector of Islam called those very assembly members 'dacoits, corrupt, drunkards, bribe-takers'. I am sure you have his speech that is full of praises for your so called assembly members. So far as the Judge's decision to call Ahmadis non-Muslims and not letting them say Kalima or Darood, I may refer you to a critique of that Judge's decision. A Canadian supreme court judge called that decision extremely flawed. But I don't stress upon these facts. People have made up their minds. And yes I want to scare every Pakistani of God's coming to the aid of the weak and helpless. You know the Quran, and I referred to it. When the weak and helpless cry out to Him then He does help them by punishing the persecutors and when His punishment is decreed there in no way of escape. I love Pakistan because I grew up in that country and when now I read about the destruction of Pakistan at the habds of those people who opposed its creation, I grieve for the country and its people. Please Mr. Muzammal read my comments with an open heart and fear of God. Desist yourself and advise others to be tolerant. Follow the constitution, if you want it, but don't exceed Allah's limits. Peace only lies in obeying Allah's commands.
@ AA Choudhary mr umer is telling you the true face and you are just frighting him.It is Pakistani law that Ahmadiyas could not call themselves Muslims and can not pray its not our fault. mrza nasir was given a fair chance in 1974 to defend himself for 13 days but he totally failed.they challenged it in supreme court in 1993 but result was same and now people like you are once again want to disable the whole scenario.Ahmadiyas should live according to their constitutional position.if they want to live as Muslims then it is a severely against the law and they are hurting millions of muslims also.
@Muhammad Umar Farooq How simplistic his response is! Who told him that people can do with their personal matters whatever they want. Can the Ahmadis pray as they would want? Can they say they are Muslims? I can go on and on. Saying that these students did two years work at the University and hence if they wanted they could have continued is nothing but shameful. How long can a person continue under persecution.? Even Prophet Muhammad (SAS) decided to call it quits when the Meccans made life miserable for Muslims. Please Mr Farooq, fear Allah. Once His punishment arrives there is no way to escape. Be God fearing and let Pakistan survive.
@APatriot and @irfan Killing of Ahmadis is different in the respect that there are pamphlets and banners openly hanging around in the cities declaring Ahmadis as Wajib-ul-Qatl". How many banners you have seen hanging openly in the streets calling for Shias to be killed? Killing of Ahmadis is different in the respect that there are pamphlets being openly distributed in the cities with names of prominenet Ahmadis to be targeted. How many pamphlets you have seen being openly distributed in cities with names of Shias to be targeted? Killing of Ahmadis is different in the respect that there are programs on main channels of TV where clerics are invited to openly issue "Fatwas to kill Ahamdis". How many channels you have seen who have aired programs where killing fatwas have been issued against Shias? Killing of Ahmadis is different in the respect that when Ahmadis get killed, The State takes no action. When Ahmadis get killed the state officials remain quiet. When others are killed the ministers and others rush to issue condemantions and sympathic announcements. Killing of Ahmadis is different in the respect that when incidents of violence happen, no Ahmadi is allowed on media to present their viewpoint. And if by chance any channel invites some Ahmadi, he also starts receiving warnings and death threats from your moulvis. Your clerics keep hurling totally false allegations against Ahmadis on media and then start giving threats to the media if they invite any Ahmadi scholar to reply to those false accusations. And I can just hope that you can understand the difference and also make your fellow citizens realize the difference and I can only pray that the so called moderate majority can some day get the moral courage to raise their voices against this discrimination instead of tolerating this intolerance. And as some one here mentioned even the state persecutes Ahmadis legally. When state is a party in crimes against humanity then oppressed has a right to take their case on every forum.
How about... Any person who is the victim of a target killing met with inaction is wrong? I've noticed something funny in a tragic way. It's as if Pakistan has a whole bunch of little countries inside it due to self-imposed labels and separation. Yet, quite honestly, whenever I read anything about any of them, the label is completely insignificant and ignored since it means almost nothing. I'd bet it's really only Pakistani people who actually notice the difference and the reason for doing so completely escapes me. You're all Pakistani people to nearly everyone but yourselves. Really, guys, you're a bunch of people breathing the same air in a general area someone decided to name Pakistan. That makes you people of Pakistan. Pakistan is each and every one of those groups. You're not clashing groups as far as nationality is concerned. You're participating in a poorly done civil war of people of Pakistan clashing with people of Pakistan. Don't use the labels to justify it. It's Pakistan imploding on itself. Pick something already. Are you Pakistani or one of those groups? It's as simple as that. If you choose the group, congratulations, you're officially what "foreign hands" is used to cover up. So exile yourself.
Murder or incitement to murder in the name of religion is wrong plain and simple! - PAKISTAN'S TRACK RECORD OF CONVICTING TERRORISTS IS A JOKE - 75% GO FREE and as far as I am aware nobody as ever been convicted of the murder of an ahmadi
only liberal fascists use the gibe of human rights to further their perverse ideals.
@ Anwar: Thank you Brother Anwar for raising a sane voice. One only needs to understand this....Ahmadies only want that they should be treated in equality and not discriminated....it is really heartening to see such mature and understanding person around in our society, dear Ahmadies donnot want that whole of pakistan should become ahmadi or else ..like these fanatic moulvies want that every body except their sect should perish or made to perish...ahmadies only want peaceful co existence and that is all....and that was what Quaid e Azam promised for all the people living in Pakistan......and dear, you mentioned that it is wrong to label all the person belonging to one religion as a terrorist for the deeds of only one group of people...you are absolutely right...to tell you the truth...Ahmadiyya are trying to convey the same message around the world by holding peace conferences....to tell the world that Islam is a religion of peace and harmony and some people have high jacked the name of Islam to advance their fanatic agenda.... It is very nice to see educated people understand this difference now but dear Anwar Bhai sometimes it is really frightening to see that even well educated people fall prey to the threats of these fundamentalist elements and do what they want them to do!. May Allah give vision to our nation...so that we can achieve what is really destined for us....
@Moz: I strongly beg to differ your opinion. You cannot malign a religion for wrong doings of a couple of people. A very small minority of Muslims believes in terrorism in the name of Islam and everyone is trying to educate them. Today’s media has labeled all Muslims as terrorists which is as much condemnable as unjust murders of other human beings. Every religion has small segment of terrorists.
@irfan: Unfortunately Pakistan is a signatory to many declarations of United Nations which guarantee fundamental human rights. Pakistan has violated those declarations constitutionally by not only declaring Ahmadis non-Muslims but also punishing them for professing or practicing their religion.
When state becomes a party in oppression then oppressed is left with two options i.e. start resisting movement or approach International community for help. Ahmadis being peaceful and law abiding citizens of state opt to choose second option. That is a proof of their loyalty to their country.
Second, please stop thinking that every non-Muslim state is Pakistan’s enemy and every Muslim state is friend. If this is the case then how do you see China which is certainly not Muslim country? Our actions towards outside world make them our friends or foes.
We should stop blaming others as we have been doing for the last 64 years and for once try to see inside ourselves for our own wrong doings. This is only way to correct our mistakes. We need to learn, tolerance, peaceful co-existence with other nations, sects and find peace inside ourselves. That is only way of survival in today’s world.
these are just the outcomes , the psychopathology of radicals needs to be understood first.
@ Irfan: “The letter was dispatched to the Human Rights Watch, the Asian Human Rights Commission, US embassy in Islamabad, the British High Commission and the embassies of France, Germany, Belgium, Canada, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, Islamabad.” enemies of Pakistan.... Dear Irfan...since when these countries have become enemies of Pakistan....i did not hear this breaking news.....hope you can share....our beloved rulers keep on visiting and asking for help from these enemy countries for aid and things etc..... is not this the specific mind set which everybody is talking about? and dear Irfan Bhai...when our beloved honest and just rulers dont have the time to listen to Ahmadies and any other innocent under privileged and discriminated section of society, then at least give them the right to ask the enemies of Pakistan.... to help them by telling our govt what she is doing is wrong.....
@Apatriot & Irfan: did you listen to the ahmadies and their reps when they were telling that they were being threatened..rather govt functionaries were attending the same meetings which were calling for the brutal killing of ahmadies in Pakistan....The mall on Lahore (even in front of Punjab Assembly) was filled with the banners enticing innocent Muslims to be killers of Ahmadies and earn Jannah for themselves....and what happened....28 May 2010...85 ahmadies were killed ruthlessly by these so called torch bearers of Islam...and please do not say that these types of attacks have taken place on every community...those were bomb attacks....and the ahmadies were killed at point blank range making them hostage....(like nazis killing jews)....and whole pinjab police was standing outside untill the ahmadies inside themselves captured two terrorist (sorry the truest muslims on earth) and handed them over to police....who have never in 15 months made public the investigation and who was behind this act...despite two alive terrorist....this is the what is the discrimination...Ahmadies have been at receiving end because of state sponsored discrimination....and govt has been guilty of willful blindness while it comes to Ahmadies' plight and discrimination....they are the most law abiding citizens...never involved in any violent activities...and remained loyal to this country despite all the discrimination and just because they think loyalty to the homeland in part of their Imman...not for any share in the govt etc....and to tell you the truth from our hearts....such is the Ahmadiyya turbiyyut that they will remain loyal and law abiding to this beloved country whatever happens to them...."Tumahain mitane ka zoam le ker uthe hain jo khak ke baghole....Khuda urra de ga khak unki....kre ga ruswai aam kehna..."...
@irfan and APatriot Killing of Ahmadis is unique in the respect that pamphlets are openly distributed with names of Ahmadis to be targeted. The state takes no action. When Ahmadis are killed the state officials remain quiet. When others are killed the ministers and others rush to issue condemantions and sympathic announcements. What the Ahmadis have been doing so far is cry to Allah. The Quran supports the right of weak to beseech help from others. The Quran exhorts Muslims to come to the aid of the weak and persecuted when they cry "O Allah send us a helper against the oppressor" (paraphrased). Informaing every person in the world against theis religious persecution, whether America or Human Rights Organizations should be appreciated by every Pakistani. Who knows that diplomatic intervention by the outsiders would encourage the state to stop persecution of the weak and thus save Pakistan from Allah's punishment.
I personally believe when you have a country without much struggle and history, the opportunists take over and destroy the all fundamentals of decency. Some 'mullah party' sympathizers don't realize that they are not only killing the defenseless Ahmadis basically they are destroying the country and a nation as well. When the govt is unjust you have all the rights to take your case to any decent country/organization. Just outta curiosity where is our Cheif Justice Ch. Iftikhar, I heard he takes notice of even petty news? Has he lost his reading glasses??
btw its criticize not criticise ..
The seed of hate planted 37 years ago on Sep 7, 1974 is now a mature tree bearing abundant evil. Among the things that God does not let go unpunished is persecution in the His Holy name and that of His Holy Prophet (SAW), who Allah Himself declared to be Rahmat-ul-lilalameen.
There is no denying of the punishment, when one looks at the utter rot that has permeated the core of the society in Pakistan. The very few institutions that existed have broken down. The schisms run deep every which way. The non-Muslims are not safe from Muslims. The non-sunni Muslims are not safe from the sunni Muslims. The Barelvi sunnis and the Deobandi sunnis are at each other's throats. Women are not safe from men. The weak are not safe from the strong. The poor are not safe from the rich. The ethnic groups are not safe from each other. The political parties are not safe from each other. The army and the civilians are not safe from each other. The masses are not safe from willy nilly fatwas of the mullahs. The victims are not safe from the lawyers and the police. And yet patriots have the audacity to point fingers at foreign elements for their misery. They carry on with their delusional macho games and chest thumping, holding on to the state issued card blanc, expecting to cross pul-siraat unquestioned on the day of judgment.
Welcome to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, where religion is peddled to the highest bidder and the children of Abu-Jahl are now the guardians of the honor of the Holy Prohet (SAW). The cleansing of this utter rot is beyond human faculties. It will take divine intervention to set the course back to the path of tolerance and humanity. This is the way of God, which is recorded in the scriptures and etched in the annals of history.
May God help this unfortunate nation reflect, repent, and reject the falsehood they have legalized in the name of God and His Holy Prophet. Tauba Astagfirullah!
May Allah have mercy on all of us.
I can sympathize with Israel. Muslims don't deserve respect.
I shudder to think how damned this nation will be on the Day Of Judgement for the murder of so many innocents.
God O God "save Pakistan"
@APatriot:
Exactly that behaviour calls for more violence against Ahmadis and that’s why minorities have shrunken to mere 4% from 10% since independence. One should have courage to admit that all killings of innocent people on the basis of religion, race, colour and creed are condemnable and a crime which Islam terms as “killing of humanity”. Not only Shias but other sects also join them and condemn their unjust and inhumane killings. They do protest on every forum and if Ahmadis do that then there shouldn't be any objection.
Killing of Ahmadis is no comparison with Shias or Baluchs. Ahmadis do not take their protest to streets, do not retaliate and do not take law in their own hand. Furthermore, Baluch killing is between state and a province (they have taken up arms), Shia killings is between two different schools of thought (both kill each other) whereas Ahmadi killing is purely a matter of persecution of (forcible) constitutionally declared (non-Muslim) minority by majority and state is responsible as it does not provide them any protection. Even the state persecutes them legally. When state is a party in crimes against humanity then oppressed has a right to take their case on every forum.
This is very unfortunate for us that we do not learn from our mistakes and arrogantly support terrorism and also malign minorities by painting them as anti-Pakistan elements. God only knows when we will learn peaceful co-existence with other sects, religions and clans.
@Bushra: Actually they are not ... one is a murder .. other is a gang rape and society's treatment to her a bigger concern my behalf
@Jameel: It wouldnt matter had she been an ahmedi or any other religion .
Our very bigoted ‘pious’ molvis and religious fanatics wants to bring the Islamic revolution that occurred about 1500 years ago and they are creating the same environment and situation as was then to practice Islam of 61 years before Islam. So they have been pushing Pakistan backwards of inception of Islam every day. So far they have achieved a civilization of 61 years before Islam. What a progress!
I think what we often tend to forget is that religion is NOT a state issue, not an institution - rather its a personal relationship with God, the Almighty. Who is ANY of us to declare anyone else a Muslim/Non-Muslim - only God has the Right to that. It's brutal and pretty against the teachings of Islam (tolerance, peace, love for mankind, kindness) to kill Ahmadis or any other sects. We really need to rethink ourselves and our bigoted, ingrained beliefs. It has gotten extremely out of hand.
I am speechless. I dont know with what face do we ask for religious freedom of religion in the west. We moan and we cry and we protest when we think our rights are being breached in the west. But we completely ignore what we are doing to Muslims and Christians and Hindus in Pakistan.
Many shias get killed everyday because "some" sunni-wahabi dont think of them as "true" muslims. We dont see hue and cry about it, why such a fuss when one ahmadi gets killed?
I dont see any shia brothers who are 20% of our population ruining pakistan's image internationally by writing and complaining to foreign countries like ahmadis.
Can you imagine if a baloch or shia did the following?
"The letter was dispatched to the Human Rights Watch, the Asian Human Rights Commission, US embassy in Islamabad, the British High Commission and the embassies of France, Germany, Belgium, Canada, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, Islamabad."
@Ovais: Really Ovais? How is the suicide of a 14 year old worse than a cold-blooded killing of an innocent man? Both are equally heinous and shame on you for trying to undermine one for the other.
LOL --- Pakistani's sit back and criticize Israel for oppressing Palestinians --- I suggest you take a look in the mirror.
Has there ever been a single Ahmadi convicted of anti Pakistan activities the answer is NO NEVER This clearly means that Ahmadis are Most loyal citizens of Pakistan Then why they are being punished@Ovais:
Because the 14 year old is not an Ahmadi and hence can be considered a human, or because gang rape is worst than numerous murders?
@Usman Malik: Brother I can feel your angst and pain as much as any ordinary human being can. There are many in Power who have monetarily benefited by promoting strife and raising false bogeys, all supposedly in National interest. The interests of citizens is of no consideration whatsoever. Allah seems to be very angry.
@Ovais
The comparison is completely valid. It may not agree with our views but it is the truth.
The thing that troubled me the most is the plight of our educational institutions , once we thought that ignorance is the only curse that led us into this crisis but now the bitter realization is that we hav invited our daemons to invade us to our last resort. We r en route to utter desturuction. We must realize what we r goin to be if we keep goin like this. This aint turning out to be somthing fancy.
It is very sad to seee my beloved country into the abyss of religious, ethnic, linguistic divide. We amputated the bengalis, we have Balochistan and Muhajirs on the operation table. We may survive but nothing more than a crippled society. For God's sake , wake up. We all sa America is our enemy , but when these religious and political actors try to disintegrate our nation cant we seee them as the agents working on behalf of those powers? Well we may already have given these very people the authority to call every other person a Traitor as in urdu we say CHOR MACHAI SHOR'. Stop sleeping with the terrorists or u would be born an ugly child.
I know many Ahmadis; they are good people. Their beliefs may not agree with the mainstream Islam but they are in no way heretical. Even if they are, we have no right to judge them, kill them or persecute them. That decision lies with the Almighty alone.
Beware of the day of judgement Ohh Opressors!!!..Beware of the day when the mountains would be like carded wool when your mother would cease to be your mother and your father would cease to be your father...Aqal karo kyun tum apni naslon kai liye eik ibrat ka nishaan bana chahtay ho??
May Allah Protect Ahmadi muslims..Ameen
In 1951 during a meeting with Pakistan ambassador in Egypt Shah Farouk said that since creation of Pakistan he had given a deep thaught and have come to the conclusion that Pakistanis think ISLAM was born at the same time with Pakistan. ( Quote from book Qatil Kaun by Z.A Bhutto ) That was 60 years ago to-day Pakistnis think that they are the only true muslims in the world thus they are the Custodians of Islam. What will happen tomorrow ? GOD FORBIDAhmadis are being treated today in Pakistan; like the early Muslims at Mecca.
The Rector of National Textile University (NTU) Faisalabad should clarify his position in this regard. As a parent i am so much worried in this situation. If University's magazine openly write that "all Ahmadis should be killed." Then who knows that when this magazine start writing "all Shias should be killed" "all brelvis should be killed" "all deobandis should be killed" "all Agha khani or ismaili should be killed" according to the news this is matter of fact RECTOR is showing his inability to control the situation then he Should turn down from his post or we have to think to shift our kids to some other institutes.
Population of minorities has reduced from over 10% at independence to just around 3%. If the State sympathizes with the murderers who want to kill or convert, lawlessness will spiral out of control. All out effort is needed to pull back the country from the brink.
Is this the Pakistan which was dreamt by Quaid e Azam...."Ya zulm mitte ga ga Dhurti se ; Ya dhurti khud mit jai gee!"...May Allah bless our countery...
How sorrier could the state of our educational institutions be. Instead of promoting education and love, they serve to promote hate (and endorse killings) of weaker, non-violent and non-retaliatory segments of our society. God save Pakistan. This is just so depressing!