Denying relief on the basis of belief

BALTIMORE, US: This is with reference to Abdul Manan’s article “The politics of relief: Aliens in their own land” (August 18). It was sickening to read the news story about 500 flood-stricken Ahmadi families being discriminated against by the government and clerics in southern Punjab. Let the record show that this is the same community who responded valiantly for the help of hundreds of thousands of Pakistani earthquake victims in 2005. Less than 100 Ahmadi families were affected by that earthquake. Not only that, but the Ahmadi community responded benevolently towards millions in Indonesia after the tsunami in 2004, and even today they provide free boats to local fishermen. None of those fishermen are Ahmadis.

As sad as it is, one does not worry about the 500 Ahmadis. This community has shown resilience against discrimination before. I am more worried about Pakistan.

Faheem Younus

Published in The Express Tribune, August 20^th, 2010.