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No suo motu notice of the mob attack was taken, no joint investigation team was formed to investigate the incident, no judicial inquiry was ordered and no political party protested the killings.
Roads were not blocked in protest. There were no arrests.
The victims were members of the Ahmadi community, which means they see a different side of Pakistan’s judicial and political processes than most citizens.
A member of the Ahmadi community from Gujranwala, requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune that most members of his community had anticipated the apathetic reaction from all quarters.
“All politicians and religious groups forget their differences when it comes to Ahmadis,” he said.
He said members of his community had lost faith in protesting and making demands.
“We cannot reach out to any institution of the state,” he said. “Every state in the world must protect life and property of all its citizens equally. If the state does not recognise its duty, its people are helpless.”
He blamed the government for failing to make proper security arrangements and criticised the law enforcement agencies for failing to control the mob. He said Ahmadis of Gujranwala were living in fear of another such attack and had gone to extreme lengths to ensure what little security they could afford.
He said the law and order situation was poor across the country but the Ahmadis were especially vulnerable to the violence.
“The brutality of the mob attack in Gujranwala surpassed our wildest imagination,” he said.
He said a mob had been incited through announcements in mosques. He said a large group of people had gathered and set fire to houses of Ahmadis.
“The mob was there for hours,” he said. “But no one was there to stop them.”
He said no politician had condemned the incident and lawyers and civil society organisations had been silent on the issue.
“I suppose this shouldn’t be surprising,” he said.
He said the prime minister had condoled the bereaved family after he was criticised for remaining silent on the issue. “Politicians do not talk about our problems because no one wants to lose their vote bank,” he said. He said mob attacks on minorities had become frequent, adding that the government should take concrete steps to protect them as soon as possible,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 4th,2014.
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condemnable act of brutality by jahil people who must be punished and be burnt alive also same like these innocent.
I am really thankful to the Express Tribune for raising the issues Ahmadis are facing in Pakistan. At least the ET stands out of the crowd and showing the TRUE face of Pakistan.
First if all deeply thanks to Tanveer who showed some courage and wrote the article on the reality what Ahmadis are facing at the moment in Pakistan. It is quite obvious that It is definitely a state sponsored persecution in which no rights and security is provided to the Ahmadis in Pakistan. I think the politicians completely forgot that how much Ahmadis contributed towards the independence of Pakistan and today they are been treated as of they are not human beings. Obviously the Mullas and politicians are taking good care of their worldly objects and not the day of judgement. I hope and pray that the politicians should come to know about their duties and responsibilities by keeping aside a fear for loosing their vote bank.
I salute to the courage ,integrity and honesty to profession of the reporter Mr RANA TANVIR. It is evident that under today's egalitarian role of Mian brothers and extremist threat, to say "Haq Baat" can become quite costly and life threatening.
My Felicitations to ET for standing out of the crowd of others for maintaining high standard of journalism, righteousness and professionalism. It seems that Pakistan is not for Pakistanis now but it has become exclusive domain of one or two extremist and dominant sects, in that case the situation existing in Iraq, Syria and Libya is soon seems to be the fate of the country. The situation in Pakistan reminds me the famous saying of Martin Niemöller where he said in the last that "Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me".
But still there are people like RANA TANVEER and Media outlets like ET are there so still i am not hopeless for the Future of Pakistan.