State of the nation: Urdu press seen complicit in Ahmedi baiting
According to Jamaat Ahmedia spokesman Saleemuddin in 2011, Ahmadis were not allowed to hold a convention in Chenab Nagar (Rabwah), where 95 per cent of the population is Ahmedi. The community was also not allowed to hold any sports events openly, he said. On the other hand, he pointed out, anybody wanting to rally against the Jamaat Ahmedi had a free hand. They were also allowed to abuse and slander revered Ahmedi figures.
During 2011 Ahmadis were not allowed to build any places of worship anywhere in Pakistan. At some places, the police forcibly stopped the construction, Saleemuddin said. Speaking at the launch of the annual report on May 2, he said that the Constitution allowed every citizen to freely practice their faith and thus to build their places of worship. The report says, six Ahmedis were murdered and 31 had survived assassination attempts (made because of their faith). After the promulgation of the 1984 anti-Ahmadiyya Ordinance, 210 Ahmedis had been killed because of their faith. There were 1,008 cases pending against Ahmedis in courts throughout the country.
Saleemuddin said, “There is an open hate campaign against Ahmedis in Pakistan even young children studying in nurseries are not spared.”
He said posters, stickers, fliers and calendars carrying hate messages were openly distributed. He pointed to the hate campaigns in Faisalabad where fliers and leaflets were openly distributed calling for Ahmedis to be killed. The government had failed to take any concrete action against such actions, he said.
He said extremists had increased their efforts to isolate the community and the campaign to encourage people to boycott Ahmedis and products of Ahmedi businesses had also been a major issue. Ahmedi children faced expulsion from schools. Many educational institutions refused to admit them.
The government, he said, seemed to have succumbed to the pressure from extremists and decided to look the other way.
Saleemuddin urged the government to re-evaluate laws that targetted the Ahmedi community and ensure that Ahmedis emjoy equal rights as any citizen. “Ahmedis are facing legal, social, cultural and political discrimination because of these laws.”
He said, “There have been 210 deaths after the imposition of these discriminatory laws in 1984, 254 assassination attempts, 23 Ahmedi places of worship have been demolished and 28 sealed by the administration. Sixteen places of worship have been taken over, 29 graves have been opened and desecrated. As many as 57 Ahmadis have been refused burial in common graveyards.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 7th, 2012.
COMMENTS (66)
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Pakiistan is nation of 18 crore pakistanies.it is the the property of mullah's alone so that what they want to do id to be allowed to them.and before saying ahmedies as non-muslims,one must think that before 1973 constitution ahmedies were muslims,and after constitution on demand of extremist mullahs ahmedies were proclaimed as non muslims !!! its just sick of mind and lack of education in mullahs and common muslims. thats y y GOD has made education compusory for every men and women......just think!!
It is true that there are no feet of lie.
@M M Malik:
"One should be more worried of what the Holy Prophet (saw) said on religious matters, rather than the constitutional amendment passed under political compulsions."
This aNdheyr nagri is run under a "democratic" party. One of the greatest achievements, the Grand Mufti of LaRkana is credited, with is getting the constitution through the Assembly.
In religion too, the rule of non-compulsion is supposed to apply. The Religious Police of KSA as well as through out Islamic history heads have been chopped off, for having difference of opinion on religious rulings. Both Mansur and Tahirah were chastised.
You may disagree but when Qadri pumps in some bullets in Salman Taseer's body, he is not in violation of religious rules or the earthly constitution. ZAB acted as Amirul Mominiin and NA acted as Shura of the Islamic Republic.
The worry is that greed of politicians has bartered away their credibility. As a matter of fact they were not representatives of the people and had no idea of the ethos of the society.
Ahmadiyya Community Motto is Blockquote
Love For All Hatred For None
@positively critical:
"Sorry to disappoint you but Ahmadis are muslims,"
According to a decision in the National Assembly, under the supervision of Maulana Syed Zulfikar Ali Khan Bhutto Larkanvi, Ahmedi Muslims were declared non Muslims. To call an Ahmadi a Muslim is in direct violation of the constitution.
Undoing of this retrogressive ruling by, a supposedly progressive party, would mean more blood shed.
I request all non-ahmadis to visit the link "www.alislam.org" to learn true Ahmadiyyat
Well Urdu is the national language and perhaps the most spoken language. Elements of discrimination and bias in Urdu language is an indication of the deep rooted intolerance and fanaticism in our society.
@Lawangin:
"Urdu itself is a communal language, its birth around two hundred years back was for the purpose of divide and rule. it divided Paksitan in 1971 and it divided the rest of Paksitan today any many sects and groups." . Mrs Lawangin, you must be a master scholar of linguistics.
Can you elaborate which sects were given birth by Urdu? How did Urdu divide, so that it could rule? I read in the newspapers that Mujibur Rahman obtained majority of the votes but due to silly, selfish and obstinate behaviour of Zulfikar Ali, there was a dead lock in negotiations. Division of the country took place after a horrendous military action.
Hazrat Amir Khusrow lived (1253-1325 CE). He is credited for not only inventing Qawwali but produced a collection of riddles in Urdu.
I am not good at calculating but how could you get 200 years? I would not call you thick but if others do, I would be forced to agree with them.
Reading may be hazardous to your health.
@Salman:
That is the whole point. You can't possibly see all what is happening in the whole city let alone in the whole country. You claim to be university educated but fail to understand that.
When Ahmedi Jamaat preaching commenced Punjab was an Indian Province and for that matter the entire Pakistan was carved out of India.
In Pakkstan Zia ul Haq had planted cactus hedge and the nation is harvesting it. Ziaul Haq did play the card of religion with evil intentions just to remain in power, BUT he left MAZAHABI JUNOONIS in Pakistan particularly the political parties like JI, JUI(F), Sunni tehrik, etc. are fighting for space to breathe. The Christians, Hindus, Shias of various denominations, are all considered minorities and heretics. They are treated as minorities . This fight will go on. On the other hand we find that Muslims are living peacefully.
I think this report released by Ahmadi (Qadiani) organization is fake. First of all the whole data given in it has no authentication of any independent body. Secondly the report in itself seems an attempt to get attention and portrait Qadianis as innocent and win sympathies for them. Moreover no evidence has been given how Urdu press is ignoring Qadiani and victimizing them. One thing is very clear that sports events of Qadiani are in fact hidden efforts to preach their religion. Is it not the case? i think any Qadiani, if he speaks truth, will confirm it. (Hopefully my comments will not be carried for being anti-Qadiani).
@talha:
So, your understanding is on par with the Prophet and the four Rashidun caliphs? You must be an amazing person!
seems a slight change as compared to last year's report.but as the attitude of govt is concerned seems no change.
@zzzzzzzzzz: Sorry to disappoint you but Ahmadis are muslims, and Pakistan is the only country where they are legally deemed to be non-muslims due to the state bowing down to the Mullahs, the same mullahs who have wreaked havoc on other issues in Pakistan currently. So you can keep on dreaming but they are muslims in all other countries of the world including all other members of the OIC, and hopefully one day when Pakistan will rid its society of bigotry, hatred and extremism, people will demand the reversal of the 1974 2nd amendment declaring Ahmadis to be non-Muslim.
@Zubair: you said :"Other minorities are also suffering to this act of discrimination not only Ahmadis. Why don’t you speak up for Parachinar, Gilgit, sectarian killing anywhere in Pakistan. Law states Ahmadis as non-Muslims and forbid them for their some doings; as mentioned in article 298B and 298C, to prevent any mishap or rage followed by Ahmadi jammat’s beliefs: who called themselves Muslims. " [ANSWER]: ET does speak up for other minorities who die in Parachinar, Gilgit or anywhere else in Pakistan, give a try to the google custom search at the top right of the page with the aforementioned search words and I am sure you will get several news items. As far as 298-B and 298-C are concerned, they are man made draconian laws, passed by General Zia ul Haq in April 1984 to appease the fundamentalist mullahs who have subsequently wreaked havoc on the Pakistani state, other minorities, and even on Sunni sects. And its not prevented any "mishap" or "rage" from 1984 uptill 2012, it only has resulted in the persecution of the Ahmadi community across Pakistan, radicalized the society and basically officially given legal cover to the persecution of Ahmadis. The Ahmadi mosque near Lahore from which Quranic verses were mercilessly removed had to face this action also directly because two complainants had apparently been in distress - their religious sentiments were hurt and they lodged a complaint in the local police station under the draconian 298-B and 298-C. So I presume these two amendments doesn't actually prevent the "mishap" or "rage" - in reality they have a causal effect.
Other minorities are also suffering to this act of discrimination not only Ahmadis. Why don't you speak up for Parachinar, Gilgit, sectarian killing anywhere in Pakistan. Law states Ahmadis as non-Muslims and forbid them for their some doings; as mentioned in article 298B and 298C, to prevent any mishap or rage followed by Ahmadi jammat's beliefs: who called themselves Muslims.
@Talha Sad to know that you prefer being called a Syed instead of a Muslim and Pakistani first. My friend its not about hiding my identity or exposing it. Its just about understanding and then deciding for yourself. Its about tolerance instead of open challenges.
For start, please refer to the official website here http://www.alislam.org/
@Zaid Baloch: Its Islamic country without Sharia Law. We still have English laws mostly.
@Umer: I agree. But they don't fight with each other in India unlike pakistan. Ofcourse there are certain type of disagreements on religious views including shias but still they don't fight like this.
@ Change
Yup Please let me know if you are ready for a munazira. I can show you all the facts with proper references. And Alhumdollilah I am a Syed and have all the knowledge and understanding of my faith.
Hiding the name from public shows the level of insecurity you have.
Kindly contact if ready for listening the truth.
we need secular state because of loads of religious groups
@Adnan Aamir: Do you even KNOW what blasphemy is? Or what the Jamat-e-Ahmadiyya's beliefs are? Or what position the Holy Prophet, s.a.w., has? I challenge you to find a SINGLE blasphemous word. But first do look up its meanings in the dictionary. One complied by people who know English. Not a Maulvi Shb version! As long as people follow blindly instead of informing themselves using their brains, this will continue. Unfortunately, I see no end to it.
@Salman: "Last but not the least, people at this forum have referrec them as muslim sect. Please correct urselves, they are not muslims. "
Ahmadi is a muslim sect as far as indians are concerned. We don't know what pakistanis think but they are part of muslim community.
@Indian:
Brelvis and Deobandis two other large sects are also Indian born. Breli and Deoband are both in present day India as you know.
All, i first believe what i see rather than what is published. People are saying here that ahmedi's cant go to school etc etc. one of my uni mates was a ahmedi. He became engineer with all of us in the same uni. He never faced any harasement from anyone during 4 years even though we had very strong presence of IJT in our uni. How come they are still serving at key government positions if they are so deprived community. Last but not the least, people at this forum have referrec them as muslim sect. Please correct urselves, they are not muslims.
Aslam qureshi went hiding and blamed his murder to ahmadi raja zafar ul haq was the spokesman and urdru press daily print news about to create hype Nothing is going to change in Pakistan but still Pakistan Khappe Khappe
The funny thing urdu is indian born language and ahmadi is indian born muslim sect.
@talha:
There is a difference. These other sects have not been killed by Ahmadis but Ahmadis have been killed by these remaining sects so in the case of Ahmadis its one sided hence its especially condemnable. At the same time the law and constitution also discriminates against and persecutes Ahmadis which isn’t the case for other sects. When it comes to Ahmadis, Islamic Republic of Pakistan is constitutionally an apartheid state akin to the apartheid against blacks in the apartheid era South Africa.
Majorities and brutal extremists need a review of the CONSTITUTION OF PAKISTAN which was passed by our leaders to British before independence which includes the point: Everyone in Pakistan would have full freedom to practice their faith and religion
@Mahmood: Ahmadis do try their level best. Newspapers don't publish their replies, they don't publish their replies even when Ahmadis are willing to pay for a news clarification. And what do you mean by "why not they face the truth"? They do try to logically answer all questions- look it up on youtube, how else are they supposed to answer your queries?
@Talha May I know the sources from where you read their history? Do we have enough understanding of our faith that we are declaring others Non-Muslim ? Do you even realize how much it hurts to be called a munafiq? to be unable to pray, behave and live like what you are. Yet all Ahmedis do so, even after myriads of hatred campaigns, killing and loss they are still on their path. They live a life of constant fear. They are afraid to practice their religion. Can you even realize the extent of uncertainty and fear that is a constant part of their lives? Yet they still are Thankful to Allah for His blessings. They have a far stronger faith than we do on Allah! Think FOR the Sake of Allah think, read, understand and then decide!
@Salman: So what do you make of the closure of Ahmadi mosque in Rawalpindi in February and the removal of Quranic verses from Ahmadi mosque near Lahore just days ago? I believe we cant to believe your "observation"
@Adnan Aamir: So for you those sitting in your National Assembly could interpret Islam better then Prophet peace be upon him and his companions. So may be prophet (pbuh) and his subhaba kram did not know that one has the right to declare anyone mulsim or Non-Muslim, but your legislators could see the depth of Islam on their own. Good .. Keep it up.. Looks you have only relied on the mentioned Urdu media while conlcuding that Ahmadies commit blasphemy.. Pls do a thorough research so that later you dont regret on this sort of spoon-feedling that mullah is doing to this nation. Ahamdies do not need any support from any urdu or english media. But it always very encourging that there are sane voices in this society who have the courage to stand up - mind it .. not for Ahmadies, but for truth. They are indeed the last hope for this dieing society. May Allah Bless them all, Aameen.
@Adnan Amir Before we blame someone's faith, before we express our hatred for the community why can't we for once research a bit on our own instead of blindly following the constitution of Pakistan ?? Tell me, How many articles of the constitution are being followed? The creators and protectors of the constitutions are themselves the destroyers! It's only Allah The Supreme and Exalted Power who has the right to decide who is a Muslim and who isn't. How can we decide somebody's else faith when we are so far behind in fulfilling ours. May Allah bless us with understanding, tolerance and right path. Ameen
Tributes to express tribune from being truthful and giving a place to true stories. All those who have written contradictory to the article, I just ask them to live like an Ahmadi for a week in Pakistan. He or she will find that he lost his job, his children out of school, if he says Salam to others he will be put in jail. If he says kalima this will be considered a crime. He cannot give Adhan, he cannot openly profess his religion, I do not doubt that he might be killed in this experiment.
Urdu itself is a communal language, its birth around two hundred years back was for the purpose of divide and rule. it divided Paksitan in 1971 and it divided the rest of Paksitan today any many sects and groups.
@wahab: That will never happen. Without naming, many of the superior court justices themselves believe in radical Islam. They simply can't deliver justice.
@Salman:
I know a lot of people in my locality who have not been killed, mugged or raped. That does not mean killings, muggings and rapes do not occur in the rest of society. Don’t confuse your personal narrow experience with what goes on in the society as a whole.
This is Pakistan my dear where thousands of people are killed every month belonging to the sunni, brailevi, shia or ahl e hadees sects etc and here you are crying on the death of just 200 people since 1984 which if taken as a percentage stands no where.
Please open your eyes all MUSLIMs who have a great support for the disbelievers. They are surely Munafiq, and our Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Sallalho alaihe waaleihi wassalm have shown great hatred for the muafiqins.
Please read their history first and their beliefs before giving your support to them. I know people will reply against this, this is all part of their propoganda for gaining the sympathy of people.
Its a baseless story published here. I know a lot of ahmedi's who live in my locality freely without being harrased by anyone. They have a worship area, where all of them get together. They also regularly organise sports events for their community. Infact, there are a majority of ahmedi's living in Malir area of Karachi and they are living very peacefully and easily. Even, i have seen ahmedi's working for key government positions. The constitution of Pakistan doesnt allow ahmedis to preach or pray publically. It also prohibits them calling their worship place a mosque. But, believe me, they are living like every other citizen of Pakistan.
Ahmadies were not the single case here. Some other sects were targetted later just after declaring Ahmadies as non-muslims. This is also the root casue but it was further exploited by the then rural Ziaul Haq.
@sutta:
Persecution and killings of Ahmadis is equivalent to you losing your bag? What pathetic mindset.
In all countries Minorities are respected & accepted so yes why not here . the Minorities have not asked for this country's Name to be changed or anything else , why cant we humans live & let live why cant we live among all together in Peace so what if this country name is Islamic republic of Pakistan . its a country & we should respect all who live here in our home land Pakistan.
Ok if we believe that a lot of false stories were /are publish / ed against ahmadis, why not ahmadis come out with the truth and why not they face the truth.......
They boast it is FREE media Who cares if it is not FAIR Rather they are extremely unfair to some like Ahmadis I give one example from an urdu newspaper The headline was We will follow Qadianis even if they go over to MOON Perhapse they think Ahmadis are nearly there Who can stop if that is ALLAHS will@sutta: IK sends his representatives to DPC rallies. Why on earth do you think he has the morals or courage to stand up for Ahmedis?
Similarly |English press and blogs is giving space to pro-Ahmedi stories only. Presenting them as most innocent community on face of the earth. They are declared non-muslims by all school of thoughts of Muslims and should not be allowed to portray themselves as muslims. The killing of ahmedis is as wrong as that of any other community and we all condemn that.
The point is that Ahmedi sect is based on Blasphemy of Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) and how can they be allowed to spread their venomous propaganda among common ignorant muslims. According to Ahmedis we all are Kafir as well. People should not support Ahmedis blindly in the name of liberalism, that would be idiotic
CJ?Imrankhan?CM?PM? Any one can dare to speak for this community?
Including your very own urdu paper: Daily Express!
This is why country is being steered towards complete devastation, may Allah give those who are doing this sense and if it is not in their destiny then may people who have compassion for the masses come to power ameen.
I hope this nation understands it before it ceases to remain a nation and a so called muslim state. Extremism will soon devour this country if prosecution of Ahmadis and minorities continues in this so called holy land. All the chaos in this country is attributed to mullaism. Religious extremist will never let this country flourish if this all continues
so sad,a powerful act of discrimination
Wow. My tolerant countrymen, you never seize to amaze me.
its Islamic republic of Pakistan.
The Urdu Media for a long time has been fueling the hatred in our society, dominated by some extremists these urdu papers have been making up fake stories to malign our society. Ahmadis even before the creation of Pakistan have played a dominant role in addressing all the social values and working for harmony and peace.
They are regularly being portrayed as infidels and foreign agents by the urdu press. Is there any accountability? What happened to all the so called ethics the media have to follow? Its high time the media stand up and answer the questions!
We must think rationally and uproot the fanaticism that is destroying the whole country and at least save what is left of Pakistan. The mullahs were against the creation of Pakistan and can never be trusted. Their deeds are just the opposite what Islam is meant to be. Ahmadiyya Islam is their problem not Mullahs and Urdu journalism should highlight the victim and not the other way around.
@umer I lost my bag too. Waitin for IK to have a rally on this issue too. There are some personalities known as Asma Jahangir, Marvi Sirmed, Saroop Ejaz, Kamran Shafi, Nadeem Paracha, and co. please contact them as why dont their democratic party denounce and override the clause stating Ahmadis as non muslims. They are in power and have all the independance but I guess again 'Establishment' is giving them roasted eggs. Your demand looks good when IK will be in power iA. Let him focus on destroying these fanatics who cant even hang the killer of a party jiyala whom I loved and respected so much - Sir Salmaan Taseer!
1173 false stories were published in the urdu news press. Journalists claim to write for truth but why in case of Ahmadis they forget all the moral values. Editors of all the urdu newspapers publish such false and baseless anti-ahmadi stories without clarifying. I was astonished to read the story published in Daily Nawa-e-Waqt on 21st April by Mullah Zahid Qasmi claiming that load-shedding is only due to Ahmadis conspiracy. Mourn for the Urdu Press Of Paksitan. here is the link https://twitter.com/?lang=en&logged_out=1#!/SaleemudDinAA/media/slideshow?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitpic.com%2F9ctp78
Where minorties are not protected, there majorities will become minority someday.
What can one expect in a religious theocracy? This proves once and for all that a religious state is by its nature a fascist state. Time to switch to a secular system pronto.
Imran Khan any rally on this issue any time soon?
Ahmadis should not only be allowed to raise their voice on the English dailies or online blogs but the voice of Ahmadis should also reach the majority which only reads anti Ahmadi news and articles in dailies and weekly magazines in the land of pure.
But the problem is that the Pakistani Urdu Press has always acted as a mouthpiece of the establishment and the Mullah Cult.