Kill at least 10 Ahmadis a year: General Zia-ul-Haq’s legacy
While right wing jihadis and Taliban apologists in Pakistani media and politics are known for makings noises about real or perceived grievances of Muslims all over the world, they never seem to complain on Muslim on Muslim or Muslim on non-Muslim persecution and violence such as those against Ahmadis, Shias, Christians and Sikhs in Pakistan.
We at LUBP support Ahmadis’ freedom to live without facing discrimination and with full civil rights in Pakistan and elsewhere, and to self-describe themselves as they wish and to believe and practice their religion free from any threat or harassment.
We present below two recent reports on violence against Ahmadis in Pakistan.
The following report suggests that since the promulgation of the ‘anti-Ahmadi’ law in 1984 by General Zia-ul-Haq, not a year has passed when there has been less than ten Ahmadis killed due to religious bias.
11 Ahmadis killed during 2009: report
LAHORE: During the year 2009, eleven Ahmadis were killed while numerous others became victims of attempted killings, a recently published report titled ‘Persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan during year 2009’.
Since the promulgation of the ‘anti-Ahmadi’ law in 1984, not a year has passed when there has been less than ten Ahmadis killed due to religious bias.
The report, which was released by Nazarat Umoor-e-Aama Sadr Anjuman Ahmadia Pakistan (Rabwa), claimed that the actions of these Ahmadi opponents have been encouraged largely by the prejudiced attitude of the authorities. It alleged that the federal government has been in continual denial of the human rights and religious freedom of the Ahmadis, especially the governments of Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir who have openly supported religious fanatics in their anti-Ahmadi campaign.
Apart from the killings, dozens of Ahmadis, including women and children, were booked for blasphemy.
Source: Daily Times, 15 March 2010
Here is the latest incident reported from Faisalabad (5 April 2010) where three Ahmadis have been killed. It is worth noting that the PML-N government in the Punjab province has recently forged an alliance with a terrorist outfit Sipah-e-Sahaba in this area (Jhang / Faisalabad). Faisalabad is also a home town of Rana Sanaullah, the law minister of Punjab, who is notorious for his close links with terrorists of Sipah-e-Sahaba. Also, it may be recalled that only a few weeks ago, supporters of Sipah-e-Sahaba attacked a peaceful Eid Milad-un-Nabi rally of Barelvi Muslims in Faisalabad.
Ahmadis slam target-killings in Faisalabad
LAHORE: The Jamaat-e-Ahmadia Pakistan on Sunday condemned the target killing of three members of its community in Faisalabad on April 1 (Thursday), Daily Times has learnt. The incident occurred around 10pm last Thursday when the three Ahmadis were returning home in their vehicle from their jewellery and cloth shops situated in Rail Bazaar in Faisalabad. As their car approached the Canal Road near Faisal Hospital, four or five unidentified militants – in a white car – ambushed them. The three Ahmadis were seriously injured when the men opened fire at them. The attackers managed to flee from the scene. The three men died before they reached the hospital. The deceased men include 60-year-old Sheikh Ashraf Parvez and 57-year-old Sheikh Masood Jawad – who were brothers –and Jawad’s 24-year-old son Asif Masood. staff report
Source: Daily Times, 5 April 2010
There is a saying, ”Kill few, you will be a murderer, kill millions you will be a conquerer”, that is the difference between Zia and Hitler in quantity killing other wise point of human hatred due to religion is there.
As a critical support of PPP, I am ashamed of our 1974 anti- Ahmedi 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan.Yes our own beloved Bhutto Shaheed was ill advised to capitulate in front of blood-sucking mullahs.
@Ex-Muslim Being blackmailed by mullahs was one of the gravest mistakes of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. It is parliament’s jurisdiction nor business to evaluate the religious belief of any community.
Dr. Aamir Liaquat Hussain of Aalim Online [a TV Program of Geo TV] has repeatedly incited several times, urging Lunatic Muslims [even in the Mullah State the authority to punish anybody rests with the State not with the individuals] to kill without fear. While on air the anchor person also pressured the other two Islamic scholars (from two different sects) on the program to support the statement. This resulted in a unanimous decision among the scholars, on air during a popular television show, to urge lynching with the intent to kill.
Now read
PAKISTAN: Two persons murdered after an anchor person proposed the widespread lynching of Ahmadi sect followers – ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION – URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME – Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-203-2008 10 September 2008 – http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2008/2999/
PAKISTAN: Two persons murdered after an anchor person proposed the widespread lynching of Ahmadi sect followers – ISSUES: Murder; religious discrimination; freedom of religion; media
Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that an anchor person working for a prominent television channel has incited Muslims in Pakistan to kill – to devastating effect. The targets are followers of the Muslim Ahmadi sect, a group which has been declared non-Islamic under the constitution of Pakistan. The first killing happened within 24 hours of the broadcast, and just under two days later a district chief of the Ahmadi was murdered. Followers of the religion are understandably frightened, and many have left their homes and are taking shelter at their central mosque, the Rabwa.
CASE DETAILS:
In a program aired on 7 September 2008 the anchor of the religious program ‘Alam Online’, Dr. Amir Liaquat Hussain–also former federal minister for religious affairs–declared the murder of Ahmadi sect members to be necessary (Wajib ul Qatal) according to Islamic teachings, because its followers don’t believe in the last prophet, Mohammad, peace be upon him. Dr. Amir repeated his instruction several times, urging fundamentalists Muslims to kill without fear. While on air the anchor person also pressured the other two Islamic scholars (from two different sects) on the program to support the statement. This resulted in a unanimous decision among the scholars, on air during a popular television show, to urge lynching with the intent to kill. This was not a one-off. On September 9, Mr. Hussain answered a query with the comment that blasphemers are liable to be put to death.
According to the information received, at 1:15pm on September 8, 18 hours after the broadcast, six persons entered the Fazle Umer Clinic, a two-story hospital at Mirpur Khas city and two of them went to the second floor and started pressuring 45 year-old Dr. Abdul Manan Siddiqui to come downstairs to attend to a patient in crisis. Dr. Manan left his office and descended into an ambush. He was shot 11 times and died on the spot. His private guard was also shot and is in a serious condition. A woman was also injured by firing. The killers remained at the hospital until the doctor was declared dead, then they walked out of the building’s front entrance. Police registered the killers as unknown. On September 9, 48 hours after the broadcast, Mr. Yousaf, a 75 year-old rice trader and district chief of the Ahmadi sect was killed on his way to prayer in Nawab Shah, Sindh province. Yousaf was fired on from people on motor bikes, and sustained three bullet wounds. He died on the way to the hospital. The assailants had taken a route past a police station. No one was arrested.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The Ahmadi sect was declared non-Islamic sect on September 7, 1974, through a constitutional amendment, and was labeled a minority sect. Since then, there has been open hatred of the sect by certain Islamic circles and fundamentalists across the Muslim world, and sect members suffer widespread discrimination. Ahmadi followers are not allowed to bury their dead in the ordinary grave yards of Muslims, and many of those buried before 1974 were shifted by fundamentalists. Since 1984 (when statistics have been compiled) around 93 Ahmadis have been killed for their allegiance to their sect, with four killed so far this year, including Dr. Ghulam Sarwar on March 19 in Faisalabad, Punjab province and Mr. Basharat Mughal on February 24 in Karachi. The Dr. Siddiqui is the 15th medical doctor killed since 1984.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to following authorities and urge them to appropriate actions in order to stop the killings of Ahmadi followers and recognized religious freedom. Please also demand them to prevent any religious hatred or discrimination from broadcasting through the media. Please be informed that the AHRC has also written separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief.
This is a point of real concern as Pope Benedict has already given remarks that Pakistan is not safe for minorities. I firmly believe he is right as now Pakistan is a safe heaven for fundamentalists and extremists only, not even safe for Muslims. Worst to worst, such factors are now gaining access to the media and spreading their particular evil belief to all with more speed. Any mullah can become a Alim and can be called upon by any anchor on TV for a unique fatwa, fit for the event and almost every body becomes a political as well as defense analyst in any talk show.
I must this is more than enough….This is not the teaching of Islam ..the sayings of Harzat Mohammad (S.A.W) to kill any one in the name of religion.Come on i am non ahmadi ..you extremist communities tell me where islam says to brutlly kill the innocent people.who the hell you are to decide who is muslims and non muslims?
Just like General Zia the a-hole was promoted by PPP …. the Ahmaddiya amendment was also brought about the PPP.
When is PPP going to atone for its original sin in 1974?
After the dismember of remaining Pakistan.