June 4, 2025
By Xari Jalil
LAHORE
A new form of persecution against the Ahmadiyya community has emerged of late, with Eid ul Azha approaching. Anti-Ahmadiyya campaigns have increased once again and the government continues to look the other way.
Radical, far-right religio-political groups especially the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) have been aggressively trying to create anti-Ahmadiyya sentiment on the ground. As Eid ul Azha approaches, there have been several complaints by the Ahmadiyya community of harassment, intimidation, and persecution especially being carried out against them by members of the TLP.
Last year in 2024, TLP activists destroyed ibadatgahs or places of worship, and slapped countless of baseless cases against Ahmadi individuals, just before Eid ul Azha, while on Eid day, several cases were registered against Ahmadis for “performing ritual sacrifice” and their places of worship destroyed. These incidents happen regularly in different pockets around the country, but in particular in Punjab, followed by Karachi and Kotli (AJK), where attempts are always being made to harass the Ahmadi community.
Harassment continues
This year one of the strategies to cancel out the Ahmadi community from the mainstream, is to pressure them to sign an illegal affidavit forcing them to vow that they will not celebrate Eid, by offering prayers or sacrifice.
Most of the harassment against Ahmadis is carried out over baseless allegations and charges – usually invoking Section 298 B and C, (misuse of epithets, descriptions and titles, etc., reserved for certain holy personages or places, and person of Qadiani [Ahmadi] group, etc., calling himself a Muslim or preaching or propagating his faith).
Last year, the minarets of Ahmadi places of worship, and their gravestones have been demolished with the police being either silent spectators or being directly involved in the destruction. Last year, TLP members went to the extent of booking cases with the police against an Ahmadi man, who owned a pet goat. (He was accused of having the animal for the ritual of Eid sacrifice whereas the goat was actually a pet.)
Over the past three months, already four Ahmadis have lost their lives because of this persecution – three have been murdered – a gruesome mob lynching in Karachi, a shooting in Sialkot and another in Sargodha where a renowned doctor was killed. Yet another elderly man died in judicial custody after he was booked for attending his ibadatgah on Friday. Now this year, these anti-Ahmadi groups seem to have a new plan up their sleeves: by forcing the Ahmadiyya community to sign affidavits—banning them from sacrificing animals on Eid.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) announced on Wednesday that there was deep concern after the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA)’s recent letter, that urged the Punjab police to prevent members of the Ahmadiyya community from observing their religious rituals during Eid.
“This action, coupled with the requirement that Ahmadis should submit affidavits disavowing their beliefs, violates the community’s constitutional right to freedom of religion or belief under Article 20 as well as their right to equal citizenship.” said the statement.
“HRCP fears that this continued institutionalized discrimination against the Ahmadiyya community will empower vigilante actors and extremist groups to enforce a de facto ban on the community’s freedom of movement and public participation. The LHCBA must withdraw this directive. The Punjab government should instruct the local authorities to protect members of the Ahmadiyya community at a time when they are especially vulnerable to vigilantism.”
Letter by LHCBA & other lawyer groups
The LHCBA applied for the issuance of an order by the Police and Punjab administration to stop the “illegal gathering” of the Ahmadi community to perform Eid prayers, Sunnah sermons, sacrifices, and any other Islamic rituals on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, under Sections 298-B and C.
Saying that Eid is an important religious festival “exclusively” meant for the Muslims, therefore any other religions and groups, especially the Ahmadis would not be “legally permitted” to follow this ritual.
The LHCBA said that these actions by the Ahmadi community – of trying to celebrate Eid – wee declared as ‘illegal actions’ by the Lahore High Court Bar Association, saying that it ‘incited the emotions, and hurt the sentiments of others’.
The letter requested the provincial administration, including the RPOS, CPOS, CCPOS, DCS, DPOS, SHO, that they prevent the Ahmadi community from ‘violating the constitution and law’.
The Lahore High Court Bar Association has officially asked police to bar Ahmadis from offering Eid prayers or holding any gatherings — simply for practicing their faith.
Pakistan’s apartheid of its Ahmadi citizens continues. #AhmadiApartheid pic.twitter.com/yFABa1F6XF
— Kashif Chaudhry (@KashifMD) May 26, 2025
These actions, including letters to the administration, and press releases issued by TLP, have also been replicated in other districts, including District Vehari, Lodhran, Chiniot, Kharian, Wazirabad, Rajanpur, Changa Manga, Sadiqabad, Chak Beli Khan, Chakwal, Sialkot, Multan, Kot Momin, Taunsa Sharif, Garhi Shahu, Jampur (Rajanpur), Gujrat, Sheikhupura, Pir Jaggi Sharif (Layyah), Bhera, Pir Mahal, Jaranwala, DG Khan, Sharaqpur, Farooqabad, Sahiwal, Islamabad, Kot Addu, Faisalabad, Bhalwal; Tando Allahyar, Badin, Mirpur Mathelo, Lahore, and Hafizabad. In Sindh, Malir, Qaidabad, Karachi, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Naushero Feroze, and Sharifabad. In Azad Kashmir (AJK), Tatta Pani (Kotli), Mirpur, Goi Khas, Sehnsa, etc.
Recently the Mansehra District Bar Association also announced that no lawyer would take up any case where a person had been accused of blasphemy or desecration of the Holy Quran. This was however shot down by the Mansehra Bar Council.
Meanwhile a source in Kotli, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), told Voicepk that in a meeting with the District Commissioner, it was decided that the Ahmadis would not also be allowed to celebrate Eid at home.
“They are active also on Eid day,” said the source. “They are have a very strong presence on the roads, they circulate everywhere, and even monitor the homes of the Ahmadis. They check their movements. God forbid if there is any animal tied near their houses. Voicepk tried to contact the DC but could not reach him.