The Ahmadis living in Rawalpindi were not allowed to offer Eid prayers on August 20 at their main place of worship, Ewan e Tawheed, said a press release on Wednesday.
The spokesperson of Jama’at Ahmadiyya Pakistan, Saleemuddin, said that “the government and local administration has violated Article 20 of the Constitution after stopping Ahmadis from congregating for Eid prayers. The Article 20 ensures every citizen to freely perform religious duties.”
Saleemuddin, in the press release, stressed that the Ahmadis would never compromise or accept any pressure on their fundamental right to worship.
“This is not only a denial of religious freedom but is also depriving the Ahmadis of an annual ritual where worship goes with social activity,” the press release added.
According to a tweet by Saleemuddin, the order to stop Ahmadis from praying at their place of worship was issued by senior district officials.
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@Tahir: Mr Tahir, does Sunni pray behind Shia Imams or Madni Imams or Ahl-e-Hadith Imams?? NO!! Because it is a matter of sacredness of ones faith. One cannot be a hypocrite by praying behind Imams who conflict with their beliefs. And how can one be content if his prayer will be accepted when praying behind some other believer?? Therefore, we cannot demand Ahmadis to pray behind some other believer, especially when that believer does not consider them even a Muslim!!
So will you be ready to pray behind Ahmadi Imams?? think about it !!
@Vikram: Thanks for the positive msg; but wish you could have refrained from doling out the negative remark in the last sentence. Sometimes, it is better not to state the obvious truth.
I have tried to spread your msg. Thanks. ...Rgds//
@Sonia: Of course Pakistan has a lot of potential. We can all see how its becoming a Paak Saaf country and how all sinners are being cleansed. It only needs more women like you to lead from the front
@ ET censorship
y do you cut off my comments- they are not full of that much hatred as they hatred spewed by the non- Muslim community on your pages- y don't you curb that instead of curbing Muslims all the time?????
Hindus use Temple not trample. Sikhs use Gru Dwara.
@Awans: It is not the fastest religion, that is pure propaganda. The ahle-sunnat-jamaat are bringing more people to their side than any other. The rest of Pakistan are not confused with what Ahmadis represent and no one is converting. I hear they bribe people with money & people take it but do not convert.
kya baat hai? If the ahmadis were denied access, Rawalpindi has hundred of other mosques where they could have read namaz with the jamaat. What are they afraid of reading in non-ahmadi mosque?
I am Ahmadi Muslim.I don't care if you consider me a non Muslim. It is between me and my Allah who will deal with me at the time of Judgement. I have my family and friends residing in Pakistan and they are suffering at the hands of Mullahs on a daily basis. I still Love Pakistan I still Love Pakistanis.
qadiyanis are not muslims. they declared non-muslims thru the amendmnt in constituion of 1973..........so better to stop calling them muslims.... secondly if they were stopped from praying in their so callled masjid thn there must b sum serious threat otherwise if sumthing happened to thm thy will lament abt it years after years......
The reality is that Ahmadis, and members of other minority groups are not welcome in Pakistan. They should try and leave Pakistan. As time goes by things will become much worse for minorities.
And you know what- apart form the corrupt leadership and some rotten systems- we actually as a community of people are living in the Pakistan that Jinnah wanted!!!! What itches outsiders most is that we might just correct the areas that are rotten and corrupt- and attain the potential that Pakistan has!!! The mere thought of that almost kills India specially and the West!!!
Most people think we have a long way to go- as a matter of fact we don't - we have come this far- we can make it to a century InshAllah without fumbles- reports like these only make us stronger!!!
Identifying problems and fixing them is half the job done!!!
What can be worse than people of Pakistan disrespecting their leader..Mr Jinnah. I have no more tears for this nation!!
@Pakistani Hindu: Jinnah as no place in present day Pakistan. We are now an Islamic Republic. That speech is irrelevant. If Pakistan was supposed to be secular, then you are challenging the 2 nation theory
@Sultan Mirza: So indirectly you are suggesting that Ahmedis can not have their names which resembles with that of Muslim community ( your logic that they are stealing the Muslim identity). . You are justifying your stand because the Pakistan's law has declared the Ahmedis as non Muslim. this mindset of common man of Pakistan teaches their children to boycott/ discriminate Ahmedis socially educationally and what not. This is applicable to the so called liberals too. . Soon the intensity of hate against Ahmedis, i am afraid, will reach at its peak. In the current circumstances there are ample seeds for the growth of talibanism and Pakistan definitely deserve the spread of Extremist/terrorists as the same has been chosen by Pakistan's common men and therefore there is no reason to cry against it.
@Raj Kafir Mind it this the same free secular India where Babri mosque was bulldozed and hundreds of Muslims were massacred in different cities by fanatic hindus under the Government protection. Look who is talking about free India?
Pakistan I'm hurt :-(
Two mistakes by these leaders are still haunting pakistan.
General zia implied version of intolerant and extreme islam and bhutto denial of giving minorities full rights to their religious freedom.
@Vikram: Thank your india atleast you guys respect others religious values, i am ashamed to say that we don't tolerate this kind of thing here :(
@Jameel ur Rasheed: "For all those who are saying that Sikhs provided gurdwarah for Eid prayers should know the facts about the gujrat riots when 1,000 muslims were locked in a hall type building and building was put on fire."
You obviously have your facts wrong. A train carriage of Hindus returning from pilgrimage was put on fire by Muslims. This triggered Gujarat riots. These riots happened all over Gujarat for 2 days 790 Muslims and 250 Hindus died. On the 3rd day army was called in, curfew imposed and peace restored. There have been no riots in Gujarat in 10 years since then. The notion that like Jews in Germany, Muslims were all dragged to some common place by the government and put on fire is laughable. These fights happened in each galli and mohalla - otherwise why would a single Hindu die in the process?
Anyway not even Narendra Modi's worst critic has accused him of preventing Muslims from praying..
@Shakir Lakhani: "In Iran (a Shia-majority country), Sunni muslims are not allowed to have their own mosques, while in Saudi Arabia (a Sunni-majority country), there is no ban on Shias to build their own places of worship". That may be so. But in Saudi Arabia no Hindu temples can be built. Not jst that people are not allowed to carry the statues of God/godddess they pray to or their religious books officially thereby preventing them from praying even in their own homes.
@Zaheer: Please study the example of our holy prophet (saw) and how he approached the subject of declaring someone Muslim or not. May Allah forgive you for your ignorance and may he give you the strength to learn about Islam.
All will be ok if ahmadis accept pak constitution and stop simulating muslims which they are not. Its their desire to be called muslims, thats creating all the trouble. And i guess ET is owned by one because everyday there is a story on ET about qadyanis.
Qaid never wanted a secular state rather creating a separate homeland for Muslims of India where they can enjoy their life according to Islam. Pakistan is so liberal in practicing religion go check other countries. I don't see this is a problem in Pakistan, there are wrong elements which are trying to create problems for Pakistan because of its Islamic values. There are some elements including minorities in Pakistan who are actively working against Pakistan, so what is the big deal if government is doing this just because of the security. Go check in other countries the mosques are locked, why? for security..... @A:
They are not Muslims please.
Kindly get back to the preaching.s of Holy Quran and Hazrat Mohammad PBUH.
Modern enlightenment can not and should not take over whats makes a Muslim.
If you call me fundamentalist... yes i am... cuz i believe in fundamentals of Islam.
@SURAJ. You nailed it brother. Every body else read SURAJ"S comments and ponder. Why muslim think that they are the choosen ones? Do they have a coin to toss with both sides having HEAD? Can't they do better than Amitabh Bachhan of Shoolay?
@Awans: The fact about Baagh Earthquake - I am simply amazed- do you have facts and figures to support it?
@Sultan Mirza: I am a Sunni Muslim and I consider ahmadis as Muslim. Don't pretend you represent all Muslims because you don't. Fear Allah and let him and him alone decide who is a Muslim and who is not
For all those who are saying that Sikhs provided gurdwarah for Eid prayers should know the facts about the gujrat riots when 1,000 muslims were locked in a hall type building and building was put on fire. Single good act just can't wash all the bad things that had been done to some one. Vice versa is true as well.
I can't raise voice for any Ahmadi / Qadiani in Pakistan, even if I want to do and that's because I don't want to die for them. But yes, if they follow the constitution I can atleast try to persuade others and bring in other provisions of constitution regarding freedom of religion. They can't just defy a specific provision and claim the benefits from other provision. Things don't happen like that!
Very sad, feudal Mullah's bent to push nation in internal fight.
@ Eddie dex: "I have never heard of any country in the world where people were not allowed to pray". In Iran (a Shia-majority country), Sunni muslims are not allowed to have their own mosques, while in Saudi Arabia (a Sunni-majority country), there is no ban on Shias to build their own places of worship.
Sorry guys this the Pakistan of Z A Butto and GEN Zia.
It's déjà vu, we have heard same things over 1400 years ago, see who's on who's side!
@adil: "What a hypocracy from the Govt. Of Pakistan,on the oneside they are protecting Hindus and on the otherside voilating Ahmadis Rights".
When were Hindus protected by Pakistan government? Assuming that they were protected why is that a problem? The problem is lack of protection for Ahmadis, not presence/absence of protection for Hindus.
In Dera Doonh India, it was raining so the ground where Muslims offered Eid prayers was rendered unservicable. The Sikhs Parbandhak committee whole heartedly allowed the Muslims to offer their Eid Prayers inside the GRU DWARA. This is called tolerance, and fraternity. Our Mullahs/Molvis should learn lessons- The shameful act of the prayer leader of Sector G12 who accused an 11 year Christian girl of blasphemy and the community had to flee. This is a scam- the builder mafia instead of Arson resorted to use the Mullah. What a pity on the Muslims of Pakistan.
There can't be a worse place to live on earth than the so- called Islamic Democratic Republic of Pakistan....
1) Killing and torture of any religious minority is wrong.
2) Ahmadis need to realise that they are not considered muslims by all of the other muslim groups and sects. Hence they are not even a sect. If they want to live in Pakistan, they need to stop calling themselves muslims as it is identity theft. Just like a capitalist calling himself a communist.
3) If they want to pray they should pray in their homes or migrate. Simple.
@Ali: "Pakistanis are sorry. Some day we will get rid of these extremist mouvlis and you will be able to pray."
or extremist moulvis will get rid of Ahmadis, Shias, Hindus and Christians. Hindus population has been reduced from over 30% to less then 2%. Hindu girls are being forced to convert, When Hindus go to courts, Hindus are threatened in courts in front of judges.
Hundred or so years from now, Pakistani history will say, all Ahmadis and Shias loved Sunni Islam so much that they accepted Sunni Islam with love.
ZAB made a deal with the mullahs and declared Ahmadi's non muslim, in return the mullahs slaughtered his daughter. Zia put further restrictions on the Ahmadi muslims vowing to wipe the cancer of Ahmadiyyat from Pakistan and in return Allah wiped him out. The moral of the story is the mullahs will one day destroy what is left of pakistan
I have never heard of any country in the world where people were not allowed to pray...actually the exception could the old communist Russia or present day North Korea....that is the category that Pakistan now belongs in...supressors of people's faith...disgusting in today's world...
@THE: yeah good question. I wish ppl start using their brain and discerning the motives behind. ET is certainly a biased reporter.
@Vikram:
Do you think that the noble gesture would be reciprocated any time soon?
@Pakistani Hindu:
If you follow Jinnah's words before and after 11th Aug, 1947, you will realize that the 11th Aug speech was merely for cosmetic effect.
They are exploring Mars...We are burried 1000 feet under ground....what a sad story...
In Pakistan Muslims cannot find place to offer Eid prayers where as in India, Sikhs offer Gurdwara to Muslims for Eid Prayer.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/In-bad-weather-Sikhs-Muslims-and-Hindus-make-good-friends/articleshow/15600144.cms?
Qadiyanis are getting daily coverage on ET,,, hmmmmm now there's something really fishy here
@Pakistani Hindu
Was Quaid E Azam joking when he said the following words on 11th Aug, 1947 ???
Do you need further proof????
Pakistani society is not ready to accommodate new religion, specially when it is a derivative of Islam. The Moulvis and everyone else thinks that they violate the basic fundamentals of Islam i.e. oneness of Allah and Seal on Prophets. Ahmadis have been provided with a framework in constitution about what they can do and what they can't do. Constitutionally they have been strictly denied to act like Muslims or pray like Muslims. Ahmadis had been acting non-constitutionally for quite a long time until the Moulvi party noticed that they are preaching and expanding their faith as well and turned against them. Now what's being done is all right in the light of constitution. It's true that every religion has been allowed it's religious freedom in constitution but for Ahmadis have been clearly identified and specific provisions have been added regarding their religion practices. So, if they act under the constitution, only then can other Pakistanis guarantee their security.
Meanwhile in India Sikhs offer Muslims to offer Eid prayer in the Gurdwara, becauseof rain! God bless these Sikhs! May
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/It-was-pouring-so-Sikhs-invited-Muslims-to-offer-namaaz-in-gurdwara/articleshow/15600144.cms
Thank you ZAB!
But CJ is way too busy to take notice....Probably trying to track down how much his son and family spent on this Eid. So never mind Ahmadis. Better luck next Eid.
Nothing can harm Pakistan more than such acts. No wonder Pakistan is at a verge of turning into another Afghanistan.
IQBAL AND JINNAH KA PAKISTAN :((
This is embarrassing. Molvi in 60 years have failed repeatedly by miles. All those tactics will not be helpful at all. This is media time just call Ahmedies on live TV with good scholars likes of Mufti Taqi Usmani and Ghamdi sb and let the nation decide it self.
With hate and mob attitude we are only helping Ahmediat. Time is to think and decide the peaceful way to handle Ahmediat.
May ALLAH bless us all.
@Ali: I wish it was just extremist moulvis, but it isn't. It's the common man. I have friends who think this way. What are you going to do about that?
Mullahs build mosques illegally all over pakistan for their own benefit but nobody thinks about following rules then
Jahan Zulum Ho Wahan Aman ho Yeh Mumken nahin" Where ever cruelty prevails no chance for peace there. So this seems to one of the reasons why daily peace has evaporated from the Pakistani society. It is also regrettable to novice that no visible and strong voice is raised either by civil, judiciary or military elite against such anti Ahmadiyya acts. Neither interior minister takes notice nor President. Where civil society has disappeared which used to raise its voice for basic human rights?
Pakistanis are sorry. Some day we will get rid of these extremist mouvlis and you will be able to pray.
Really sad and depressing.
They were stopped from praying because the mob, the gansgeter of rawalpindi thinks that Ahmadis should not call their mosque, mosque and they should not call it Eid prayer because it is an islamic ritual. Well i would like to tell you one thing, if people of Pakistan don't stand up for these things, and things like that poor 11 year old girl who was beaten and then arrested, Allah will destroy you, just like who he had destroyed people before you, when they were stopped from praying one God, and when they were unjust among their people.
what a shame !
Why are Ahmadis still here? Pakistan is a dar-al-harb for them. They should leave it for europe and the US and work to shame pakistani leaders into changing the laws.
The government is now stopping the minorities from offering their main religious duties. Whats next?
What a hypocracy from the Govt. Of Pakistan,on the oneside they are protecting Hindus and on the otherside voilating Ahmadis Rights.
YES!!!!!!!!!!!! Pakistan is an Hypocrate country.
Time for President to take action on this as well as he did in case of Christian young girl. Why Chief Justice has not taken any sou motto action in case of minorities persecutions in Pakistan...Hindus, Christian, Ahmadies are suffering but Mr. Chief Justice only care about the rights of Muslims. He is Chief Justice of Muslims only.
Guys, you've been absolved of all the religious duties by the people and the constitution of Pakistan. Just chill and let God take care of the rest.
Time to toss the "senior district officials" in jail - along with any police officers who participated in an activity which was blatantly immoral and illegal. This type of activity just reinforces the the image that Pakistan is a xenophobic country.
When you have this legalized discrimination against your minorities and other sects, you obviously don't have right to speak in support of other Muslims spread across the different countries like Myanmar..
@Pakistani Hindu:
no. he was apologising.
Why Ahmadies are complaining? Can't they find a place like Dar-e-Arkam as was found by early Muslims and Holy Prophet Mohammad SAW to offer their prayers quitely.
International Religious Freedom Report of State Department will take a note of these serious violations and recommend sanctions against Pakistan. Pakistan has to realise that it needs to grant freedom of religious practice to it's citizens.
In India Sikhs offered their hall so that 800 Muslims could pray. Go read on TOI. In that city 800 Muslims are there who read namaz outside. Because of too much rain, it was not possible to do it outside.
In Land of Pure, Ahmadi Muslims had no place to pray in Rawalpindi.
Every alternate day there's a story regarding the atrocities faced by the Ahmadi community. Quaid-e-Azam wanted a secular state; what he sadly got is a pathetic country where (Ahmadi) Muslims can't worship, Shia's are slaughtered, Hindu's forced to convert and Christians are wrongly booked for blasphemy.
Was Quaid E Azam joking when he said the following words on 11th Aug, 1947 ???
“You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed - that has nothing to do with the business of the State."
Really sad incidence :(
Probably done because of security reasons, which shouldn't have been the case but wouldn't it be great if ET could also ask the name of the "senior official" and publish their response? You do put up news alerts after just a tweet from people....
Mr Saleemuddin Welcome to the land of pure.
Certainly sad. Why did authorities stop Ahmadis from praying, because of security reasons?