March 13, 2025
By Xari Jalil
LAHORE
Religious extremists attacked a man late Tuesday night, for belonging to the Ahmadi community, physically assaulting him.
QH belonged to the Goi Barmooch area, where he had set up his shop and used to sit there every day. Extremists attacked him in his own shop leaving him badly injured.
According to local reports, after the attack the group of extremists, mainly led by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) gathered outside the homes of the Ahmadiyya community, raising slogans and creating an uproar, till late in the night.
The area where the incident occurred is the same where last year, Ahmadi graves were demolished by TLP extremists, say local residents.
“One of the tombstones that was desecrated was that of Naik Ghulam Shafi, a soldier who had laid down his life while serving in the Pakistan Army at Siachen. It was his brother who was attacked on Tuesday night.
“At first they were abusing and swearing, and then by the time the taraweeh started, they had begun to raise slogans,” said the local on condition of anonymity. “When things got dire, the police along with the Assistant Commissioner reached the spot and tried to control the situation. Things are under control now, however they are still giving calls to incitement to violence.”
But the locals say that the incitement to violence happens all year round.
“This is nothing new, nor can it be stopped in one night,” he says. “The police visit a location where an incident has occurred and they leave after half an hour, but the extremists are at work 24 hours, all year round. Even now they are sending Whatsapp messages that are calling for violent acts against ‘Qadiyanis’ (derogatory term for Ahmadis).”
Regardless of the seriousness of the incident which has occurred along with many other recent incidents of violence and threats against the Ahmadi community, the police registered the first information report (FIR) a day late.
“They said they were waiting for the medico-legal officer to complete the physical examination including X-ray reports. Usually the police always use delaying tactics to start investigation,” says a local journalist. “Most of the time, these elements are roaming around freely, but the police do nothing to arrest them.”
The FIR filed on March 13, details the incident saying that the victim went to sit at his shop situated in the Pooch district when two men, who had already been threatening him, approached him and began getting violent and abusive. But while the investigation is underway, there is little hope for the community to be provided security for the rest of Ramzan.
Violence against Ahmadis in AJK
There have been concerning incidents of attacks against the Ahmadi community in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
Attacks on Places of Worship
In AJK there have been several similar attacks on Ahmadi community over the past year. Ahmadi places of worship have been attacked across AJK, including incidents of vandalism and destruction of minarets.
Specifically, there have been reports of attacks on Ahmadi places of worship in the Kotli district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). For example, a violent mob attacked an Ahmadi ibadatgah during Eid celebrations in June of 2024. Also, in February of 2024, extremists destroyed the minarets of an Ahmadi place of worship in Bhabra.
Broader Context
These incidents occur within a broader context of persecution faced by the Ahmadi community in Pakistan, including discriminatory laws and social hostility.
The legal framework in Pakistan, including Ordinance XX, (formally known as the “Anti-Islamic Activities of the Qadiani Group, Lahori Group and Ahmadis (Prohibition and Punishment) Ordinance, 1984),” is a piece of legislation in Pakistan that significantly restricts the religious freedoms of the Ahmadiyya community.
The ordinance aims to prevent Ahmadis from “posing as Muslims.” It prohibits them from using Islamic terminology, titles, and practice
Other key restrictions for Ahmadis are
- Publicly practicing Islamic rituals.
- Using Islamic greetings.
- Building mosques that resemble traditional Muslim mosques.
- Making the call to prayer