State of siege

Allowing injustices to continue against Ahmadis in our society simply encourages others to act in a similar fashion.

The persecution of minorities in our society often goes unnoticed and uncommented on. Few even realise that the siege of the office of an Ahmadi-run publication, The Lahore — based on Turner Road in Lahore — which began nearly two months ago, continues, with the authorities failing to take action against the extremists who patrol the area outside the premises. They refuse to let staff enter and, according to Ahmadi spokespersons, had been stealing material from the office. The Ahmadis also say police have failed to register a case despite complaints.

The story of such highhandedness, perpetuated by extremist forces, is not a new one. We have seen many outrages committed against the Ahmadi community in the past. This time round, the United Khatam-e-Nabuwat group responsible for the action says it is seeking the blessing of God, and has said a case under the blasphemy law and other clauses specific to Ahmadis should be brought against the publishers of the magazine.

Allowing such injustices to continue in our society simply encourages others to act in a similar fashion to the men who have taken over the office of a publication which has been produced and circulated since 1951, when poet Saqib Zervi began it. The magazine is said to contain cultural, literary, social and other material. It is currently being run by the sons of Zervi, who himself died in 2001. The siege laid on the office in April simply cannot be allowed to go on. It is unlawful and adds to the prejudice that already exists against Ahmadis. Calls to reform laws which target them have been made but not heard. It is time for the authorities to prick up their ears. The Ahmadis have suffered massacres, discrimination of many kinds and other abuse. They need to be offered the protection that should be available to every citizen of Pakistan, regardless of their religious beliefs, so that they can go about their normal activities without the fear that currently haunts them.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2013.

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