As death toll mounts, Ahmadis fight back – with letters
During a recent Supreme Court hearing in Karachi that was examining the progress made on its 2011 verdict on violence in the city, a police officer attempted to explain why over a dozen people had died the day before the hearing. “And this person was a Qadiani,” he said, referring to a victim.
There was no further explanation.
Nine Ahmadis have been killed in Karachi since January, a marked increase from recent years. The Ahmadiyya Jamaat has now written to government officials, including the president, prime minister, inspector-general of the Sindh police and the director general of the Rangers in Sindh, calling on them to take action against those responsible. The community believes that Ahmadis have been targeted for their faith.
The letter, authored by the community’s spokesperson and dated October 25, states:
“As I write to you, nine Ahmadis have lost their lives only in Karachi in recent past as a direct result of hate campaign and target killing because of their faith.”
“The signs and tactics of these attacks are the same and yet I regret to say that there has been no progress in apprehending the culprits. I am not alone in believing that we have been left by the state at the mercy of militants and miscreants who are thirsty for Ahmadi blood and there is little that is being done to provide Ahmadis security.”
The letter also tries to put these attacks in perspective. “The bigger and wider issue is increasing presence of hate filled material or wall chalking in the area that provides an open invitation to any miscreant to take matters into his hands,” it states.
It calls on the recipients to “take action and fulfill your duty to protect the life and property of all citizens without discrimination.”
Calls and messages to Sindh IG Police Fayyaz Leghari, Additional IG Iqbal Mehmood and the Sindh Additional Home Secretary Waseem Ahmed went unanswered. Waqar Mehdi, the adviser to the Sindh chief minister, said he had no knowledge of a letter being received. “If this is the case [that they have sent a letter] then they should send a copy to me and I’ll have a look at it,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2012.
COMMENTS (31)
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In Pakistan one doesnt have a right to practice ones religion even after death. So sad that the constitution of Pakistan encourages this. And this leads to Muslims turning into terrorists.
On the day of judgement Allah will not ask the president of Pakistan or any other so called Maulvi or Mullah of their opinion on who is a Muslim or who is not. Instead he will punish those who try to be GOD in this world. something to ponder upon.
ET! don't want a dissenting voice???
@Liberal: diffence between hazaras, shias or ahmadis getting killed is zero...but target killing in karachi of non ahmadis is different from above group....the non ahmdis getting killed are due to bhatta mafia and the people getting killed are as aggressive as the killers....but hazaras, shias or ahmadis are nothing more than sitting ducks getting killed by trained, fanatics, religious stooges who are opportunists......
Pakistan is quickly and unfortunately heading in a downward direction. The anti-blasphemy laws are being used as a weapon to force religious minorities out of Pakistan. There is too much division and religious intolerance and all of this negativity can only make matters worse. It's time that the moderate voices of Pakistan, if they still exist, come to the fore and condemn the religious extremism and stand up for the rights of all Pakistanis.
"Calls and messages to Sindh IG Police Fayyaz Leghari, Additional IG Iqbal Mehmood and the Sindh Additional Home Secretary Waseem Ahmed went unanswered."
Perhaps Coleridge said it best , "until I know a man's ignorance-----I deem myself ignorant of his understanding". All of us continue in our ignorant state about the truth of this matter . May I strongly recommend reading the Justice Kayani and Justice Munir exposition in the brilliant document --"Munir Enquiry report on the 1953 Panjab anti-ahmadiyya disturbances".? It is available in Lahore.
Targeting Ahmadis violates every civilized norm --- the fact that the Govt sits by and does nothing is downright criminal. Perhaps it's time for the UN to get involved as one might argue this is akin to ethnic cleansing.
Qadianis by far are the most peaceful and law abiding citizens of Pakistan. They have made very valuable contribution in almost all spheres of life in Pakistan. Pakistan is their home land and they have every right to demand safety and security of their life and property from the Government. Killing of Pakistani citizens must be condemned by all Pakistanis. The civil society and media should pressurize the Government to do their duty.
What is happening to Ahmadis, Hazara Shias and some other communities on the bases of their faith or ethnicity is not only shameful but disgusting. Since we started to take Allah’s responsibility of deciding what the faith of other is, instead of what other pronounce, we are getting into malicious cycle. Unfortunately, most people are relieved that it is not one of them who were killed. Even if there is no more Ahmadi, Shia or other minorities, this satanic act will not stop, that will be the time when it will be one of them. It will be too late to stand up against this evil then. Unfortunately, it is not only the actions of extremist but the ignorance of the majority on religious hysteria and their apologetic attitude toward religious mafia that has brought us to the present situation. The only hope is the Divine help from Allah to stop this killing and persecution that is going on the name of Islam from last some decades, InshAllah.
I have no issues with ahmadis and i think they have right to live and pracitce their religion .. but may i ask that who will write letter for those 1900 non ahmadi's killed in karachi target killing? .. and yes i am not talking about some different city or different part of world i am talking about same karachi where 9 ahmadi's and 1900 non ahmadi's have been killed since january this year ....
@usman786: And a call from the EU would make all the qadianis forget their dead?
It is very sad to see the helpless and weak fellow citizens being killed.Shame on us.We should remember that one day this monster of hate, extremism and non tolerance will swallow all. The only way to provide protection is to catch the culprits and punish them as well as their supporters.
We all, as Pakistanis, need to stand up against extremism.
Do you know how many people were killed in khi? And govt did not want to pay any heed? Donot worry, soon someone will call u from Canada, USA or EU
''Tum duayein karo yeh dua hi to thi jisnay toda tha sar kibray namrood ka" This is what we believe in prayers and prayers; its not with any feeling of vengeance that Jamaat would have written. We have faith in the Justice system of Allah the Almighty its just for the sake of larger peace in society that we wish such elements who hold no value for humanity should not be given a free run otherwise it may lead to nothing but bloodshed and anarchy in the society today Ahmadis tomorrow it may be someone else. We pray that Allah the Almighty show the Pakistani Administration the right path of doing justice towards their duties and responsibilities. We hope they learn to be loyal to their own law and order at least if they can't feel any humane factor in case of brutal persecution of Ahmadis!!
We are human beings first and Muslims after. This is the meaning of HaqooqAllah and Haqooq-ul-Ebaad. Read the Quran and you will realise this, Those who have killed or are spreading hatred against Ahmadis or others will be answerable to them before God.
Does God not say that He can forgive Haqooq-Allah but He will forgive Haqool-Ul-Ibaad only if the person whose rights you have violated forgives you first?
Human rights start here.....
Writing letters might work in a civilized nation. But in Pakistan only guns talk.
Tolerance that has been taught by our Prophet (PBUM) has been disappeared from our society for along time.
I feel the pain of my Ahmedis brothers & sisters! We are ashamed that we are not able to protect you.
I am not Ahmadi. I am a Muslim who believes firmly/sternly that Hazrat Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) was the last prophet of God. But it is my belief. Likewise everybody is entitled to have his/her belief. We should not kill somebody because that person has different faith/religion. We Muslims preach our religion in the same manner others have the same right to preach their religion. Only the right ideology will last. Peace should not be compromised as long as the Ahmadi's do not say/print anything of blasphemous nature. And if any Ahmadi or anybody else do something heinous like this the police should be involved for a fair trial. No individual or non state establishments should take the matter into their hands alone.
I came. I saw. I banned.
I am not surprised to see not a single comment on the board. This by and large reflects the attitude of majority of people in Pakistan that ahmadis deserve this treatment. Removing Quranic ayats from the graves is some thing we can not comprehend. Does Pakistan need an external enemy???
Really sad for who target these people.If we are muslim. We should pray first. But we would rather kill in name of religion first because prayers hisab won't be asked but killing would (according to these terrorist)
i do not want to say this but Govt will turn deaf ear sadly.
may God help the rulers to protect all in "Country".