October 1, 2024
By Xari Jalil
LAHORE
The UN Office of the High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR) has made public a letter written to the Pakistan government in July 2024, after there has been a rise in incidents of violence and discrimination against the Ahmadi community living in Pakistan, especially over the last few months.
The letter brought to attention the intense harassment and discrimination that the Ahmadi community faced, reminding the government of the community’s rights and freedoms.
The document also references several international human rights laws and standards, primarily from the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Pakistan ratified on 23 June 2010.
The document is a communication from various UN Special Rapporteurs and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, to the Government of Pakistan, dated 22 July.
Allegations
Serious allegations of human rights violations have been leveled against the Pakistani government for its treatment of the Ahmadi minority. Since January, a wave of violence has engulfed the Ahmadi community, with incidents ranging from killings and destruction of places of worship to arbitrary detentions.
In June 2024, a brutal shooting spree claimed the lives of Ghulam Sarwar and Rahat Ahmed Bajwa. Prior to this, Tahir Iqbal, a local Ahmadi leader in Bahawalpur, was murdered in March. In July, a dentist was gunned down outside his clinic on GT Road.
These violent acts are just the tip of the iceberg. Countless Ahmadi community members have been arrested and detained solely on the basis of their faith. Between June 10 and 19, 23 Ahmadis, including three leaders, were detained under preventive measures.
Attacks on Ahmadi places of worship and cemeteries have become a disturbingly common occurrence. Incidents have been reported in Lahore, Karachi, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Recently, tombstones of Ahmadi graves were desecrated by both individuals affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and police officers acting under pressure from these extremist elements.
The Ahmadi community faces a heightened risk of violence due to the publication of separate voter lists identifying Ahmadi individuals. This public disclosure of personal information, including home addresses, has exposed them to potential attacks.
The growing violence against Ahmadis is a grave concern. The lack of accountability and proper investigation into these incidents may embolden further attacks.
The UN OCHCR has requested the Government of Pakistan to provide information on:
- The status of investigations into the killings and attacks.
- The legal basis for the arrests and detentions.
- Measures taken to counteract public calls for violence and discrimination.
- Constitutional, legislative, or policy measures to protect the Ahmadiyya community.