Ahmadis, leprosy and plague

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What is it about a Shezan juice box that makes it so infectious?

A team of lawyers will raid canteens to cleanse Lahore’s courts of a juice drink produced by a company that is owned partly by members of the marginalised Ahmadiyya community. Lahore Bar Association banned Shezan juice in a unanimous vote this week.

The bar’s president – who was elected in January with the backing of Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s Hamid Khan and drew public ire over videos that show him celebrating his success with a distasteful Mujra performance on a vulgar Bollywood song Sheila ki Jawani – said stern action would be taken against retailers who are caught selling the product.

There is more to this decision than just the economics. The usual soft-drink alternatives to Shezan are popularly believed to be owned by conspiring Jews. But they were not banned. What is it about a Shezan juice box that makes it so infectious that so many of us are concerned it will disrupt our social order and must be banned?

“O the drinker (sic) of Shezan! Do not invite God’s wrath upon you by drinking Shezan,” says a popular poster that calls for a boycott of the Mango juice drink. “Do not take this obnoxious drink of the apostates lest you suffer from any disease and you lose the pleasures of life.”

“I feel like a leper,” an Ahmadi remarked.

“I forbid you to ever enter churches, or go into a market, or a mill, or a bakehouse, or into any assemblies of people,” a priest would tell lepers in ritual ceremonies of seclusion in the 12th and 13th century in Europe. Leprosy was seen as an infection associated with sin. “Also, I forbid you to ever wash your hands or even any of your belongings in spring or stream of water of any kind.”

In his book Discipline and Punish, Michel Foucault compares medieval Europe’s response to plague with that to leprosy. The response to leprosy was separation, but that to the plague was segmentation. Leprosy was a visible disorder that could be removed. Plague was invisible. The boundary between order and disorder was blurred, and therefore, every individual needed to be observed.

Ahmadis in Pakistan have been treated as both lepers and plague victims.

A traditional physician accused of being an Ahmadi was expelled from Haripur district in November. Apparently, the police agreed to the arrangement to avoid violence.

But in Rawalpindi earlier this month, religious groups including those who are not allowed to operate under Pakistani law organised a protest against Ahmadis to pressure the government to stop them from worshipping because they said it was a violation of Pakistani law.

The Pakistani state has predominantly taken the second approach. Ahmadis look and act like other Muslims and have similar names, and that is what makes most religious leaders uncomfortable. The state responded by making laws that prohibit the minority sect from acting like Muslims, and ensured all Ahmadis are clearly marked as Ahmadis in a state database of citizens, and even on their passports.

Pakistan is the land of the pure, and will stay that way as long as any impurities it contains are clearly marked. That way they don’t slip into the mainstream and infect the entire society.

Terrorist groups in Pakistan kill more Shia and Barelvi Muslims than Christians. It looks like their concerns are less religious and more related to modern notions of nationhood, census and taxonomy.

“The first conspiracy was hatched against Pakistan when Sir Zafarullah Khan was made foreign minister,” popular leader Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law told a meeting of his party in Lala Musa last week.

Like the mythical Greek king Oedipus, a scapegoat is usually a stranger. And that is why he is as likely to be idolised and made into a hero as he is vulnerable to being seen as an impurity that is the root of all problems in the community.

Sir Zafarullah was once considered a founding father and hailed for fighting Pakistan’s case for Kashmir in the UN that led to the resolutions conservative Pakistanis want the country to stick to. He had also favoured the Objectives Resolution – a statement of purpose that made Pakistan an Islamic democracy. He did not know the document would eventually become the most powerful legal justification for laws against his own faith. There had been signs.

If Sir Zafarullah Khan’s appointment was a conspiracy against Pakistan, it was hatched by our founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. At least some religious leaders who opposed Quaid-e-Azam and later became part of anti-Ahmadiyya agitations were certainly looking at things that way.

The writer is a media and culture critic and works at The Friday Times. He tweets @paagalinsaan and gets email at [email protected]

141 COMMENTS

  1. Haris…sorry to say but you totally miss the point. Christians and Jews are people of the book and have been ascribed a certain status in the Quran. A false prophet from nearby Lahore is an insult to the khatam-e-nabuyat that Muslims believe in……this is what this issue is about. Do a google search and you'll see that Ahmadis have as much hate literature about the rest of us as the most extreme deobandi or salafi group has about them. If they did not refer to themselves as the only true Muslims, and instead called themselves Bahais or Scientologists, there would be no issue and they could live and work in Pakistan just like anybody else. It is because their cult is so pointedly against the religion/ideology of the majority that they receive the treatment that they do. This is not a secular country, so don't bring your expectations based on the workings of a secular western democracy into an analysis of how things should be in this country. This is the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, there is no room for false prophets or their cults

    • M.A.J sorry to say but you too are totally missing the point. It is about islamic republic of Pakistan which in theory should be governed by word of God. Even if we indulge in religious narrative, such treatment can not be meted out to anyone whether they are the people of the book or otherwise under the Quranic Dictum of "deen main koi jabbar nehin".

      Now I am sure that all religious sects within Islam too have claim to being the RIGHT AND TRUE MUSLIMS and others to be misguided partially or wholly. Just google it and you will find enough material from various sects of Islam condemning other sects to eternal hell fire. An empirical example would be targeted killing of minority islamic sects (including shai's and brelvis) by hardliner suadi stooges. This example only highlights the extent to which these people are willing to go for their perceived reality of the world.

      The argument made by you closely resembles argument invoked by Amr-Ibn-Hishaam against the holy prophet of Islam, that your religious cult is so pointedly against the religion/ideology of the majority that you receive the treatment that you do. Yes that was in and around the time of social excommunication of muslims in Makkah. He had a sound argument just like yourself, but at least islamic history remembers him by the name of Abu Jahal. Fakad wallah ilm bisawab!

      • Such treatment? What treatment are you talking about? What you are suggesting is that people should not have the freedom of speech to boycott Ahmadis or their products? It is you who is trying to force your views down the throats of others…nobody is preventing Shezan from actually producing their products..they're still doing that and importing mercedes and they've been free to do that. The problem with you liberals is that you're actually the fascists and you pretend to be the tolerant ones…you want to shove your opinions down everybody's throats even though you're a minority.

        In your last para you are comparing our holy Prophet (PBUH) to that fraud Ghulam Mirza whatever his full name was. Clearly you've got absolutely no understanding of the fundamental concepts of Islam. By referring to it as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, I am putting across to you that this is NOT a secular state, regardless if it is not a fully Islamic one either…its certainly not a secular one. If you think that a bunch of weak-willed liberals with their twitter posts and Op-eds are gonna change that, you've been toking too hard.

        • Please let me answer you step by step. Fortunately your eloquence has indeed sent the point across.

          =>What you are suggesting is that people should not have the freedom of speech to boycott Ahmadis or their products?

          Certainly people have the right to free speech and to not buy stuff they choose not to. But claiming that we are doing so for your religion, well that is just like putting words in God's mouth. So yes you can boycott whatever you choose to, but using Allah for your cross purposes, well that is just hypocritical. As I mentioned earlier when God makes a point about "Deen main koi Jabbar nehin" I guess even any person with nominal understanding of any language with a possible IQ of just 15, can easily deduce that doing boycott or discriminating someone on the basis of religion will be breaching the instructions of Muslim God.

          =>you want to shove your opinions down everybody's throats even though you're a minority
          I guess read the post again, if you fail to understand it please enroll in basic english language course, it may help you with your interpersonal skills and also may enhance your capacity as an effective communicator (though I have my doubts)

          =>In your last para you are comparing our holy Prophet (PBUH) to that fraud Ghulam Mirza whatever his full name was
          This is actually funny, if you would have read the post clearly, you would have understood that the two personalities you mentioned were not the object of comparison, it was actually you and abu jahal. I am surprised how can you miss it.

          Just as an after thought, please be consistent with your ideals and views. If you believe that Ahmadi products should be banned because they reject the claim of Holy Prophet (PBUH) then you should actually stop using internet and the very medium that you are using to communicate and write this post here. I am sure that you are well aware that internet and these html services, network architecture and the computers and all this crap were developed by people who not only rejected the Claim of Finality of the Prophet-hood of our prophet, but they also reject his very claim of being the messenger of God.

          So while you are at it, throw your PC/Laptop, your cell phone, TV / DVD player, Refrigerator, airconditioner (the list goes on and on and on) out in the trash as soon as possible and boycott their use pronto as well because then you will be consistent in your point of view and not be a mere hypocrite of Abu-Jahal-ian proportions.

    • This is not Islamic republic of Pakistan which for practical purposes means an Islamic welfare state. Get your facts right.

    • It should be a matter of pride that Ahmadis respect a person borned in Qadiyan, Punjab. I never saw any Ahmadi insulting PBUH………. Why are spreading lies against your countrymen. If you treat so badly with Ahmadis and other minorities in Pakistan, then why Pakistanis complaint about the treatment they get in Arab, middle east and western countries ?

  2. Good to know that there are still some persons existing, who have the eyes of wisdom and dare to speak the truth.

    Nawaz Sharif and his party was planted by a dictator, Zia-ul-Haq, an enemy of Ahmadiyya Jamaat. He and most of his companions were blown away with ashes and now even Nawaz Sharif can not openly admit any link to dictator Zia-ul-Haq.

    Muhammad Ali Jinnah was called as Kafr-e-Azam and Pakistan was called as Pleedastan by Jamaat Islami. Sir Zafrullah was recognized as "Political Son" by Quaid-e-Azam.

    The bottom line is that these extremists maulvis and their helpers like Nawaz Sharif & Co have insulted Pakistan even before it was created and even after 60 years of creation of Pakistan, there is no sign that these freaks are letting this insulting behavior go away!

    • Very well said Abdullah, you have summarized the PML connection and JI leanings pretty nicely. But what is more sad is that Imran Khan is even worse and so is PPP.

  3. Good to know that there are still some persons existing, who have the eyes of wisdom and dare to speak the truth.

  4. Pakistan has become a country controlled by extreme conservative minority . The narrow mindedness against Ahmadis is cancerous . A thinking like this will drift that country towards anarchy.
    Fortunately there are still some sane people who deplore and criticize these kind of attitudes . Evil will always be faced and fought against by righteous silent majority .

  5. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

    • Lol, that is a classic example of intolerance. What exactly is tolerance, it certainly is not tolerating things that we choose to tolerate, in theory its scope is far wider than anything that you can possibly understand 😛

      So the argument that you lame ass is making is actually nothing new, this is exactly what Christians made against the Muslim during the times of the crusades, saying that they are insulting the divinity of jesus every moment. But then the western world may believe that dark ages are over and for few lucky ones it actually might be true, but unfortunately in your person you are a perfect living example that the heart of darkness still lives on and is a living testimony to process of evolution. Yes Ms. Rao after reading your post it gives me renewed faith in veracity of evolution, that in fact we did evolve from chimps but somewhere along the process some humans have taken much more from the chimps than they generally bargained for 😀

    • The way you have reacted {by submitting same opinion so many times}is enough proof that you have no logic and that you are an ignorant, intolerant and liar.

  6. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  7. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

    • Lol, that is a classic example of intolerance. What exactly is tolerance, it certainly is not tolerating things that we choose to tolerate, in theory its scope is far wider than anything that you can possibly understand 😛

      So the argument that you lame ass is making is actually nothing new, this is exactly what Christians made against the Muslim during the times of the crusades, saying that they are insulting the divinity of jesus every moment. But then the western world may believe that dark ages are over and for few lucky ones it actually might be true, but unfortunately in your person you are a perfect living example that the heart of darkness still lives on and is a living testimony to process of evolution. Yes Ms. Rao after reading your post it gives me renewed faith in veracity of evolution, that in fact we did evolve from chimps but somewhere along the process some humans have taken much more from the chimps than they generally bargained for 😀

  8. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  9. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  10. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  11. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  12. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  13. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  14. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  15. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  16. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  17. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  18. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  19. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  20. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  21. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  22. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  23. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  24. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  25. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  26. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  27. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  28. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  29. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  30. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  31. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  32. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  33. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  34. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other’s freedom start.Our beloved prophet’s blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  35. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  36. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  37. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  38. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  39. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  40. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  41. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  42. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  43. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  44. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  45. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  46. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  47. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  48. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  49. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  50. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  51. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  52. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  53. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  54. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  55. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  56. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  57. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  58. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  59. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  60. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  61. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  62. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  63. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

  64. very rightly said , it is obnoxious decision by so called revered lawyers and clearly unveil hypocrisy of our society and mind

  65. The rise of this rabid minority of so called 'religious' persons who consider themselves to be the keepers of the religion is the worst and most dangerous tragedy to befall this country. Since their method of 'arguing' any point is violence it makes it difficult to cross them and it is a dilemma that all rational persons should think about: how can this cancerous prejudice be stopped before it affects every citizen of the country. After all we all in some way or the other represent something they dislike: women, women out of purda, religious minorities, educated women, working women, men who wear western clothes, artists, musicians, politicians who pass laws they may not agree with, people with American relatives or ties, sports people…how many will survive this bigotry? The country is potentially very soon awash in a blood bath.Each sane person needs to stand up to this menace in small peaceful but effective ways. How many will they fight?

  66. This is not Islamic. Tolerance was the hall mark of our Holy Prophet (PBUH). Who are we to show intolerance.

  67. The irony is that it is only when we die will we really know who was right, who was wrong and whether the these divergent beliefs made any difference to our creator (as religion, like our genes, is commonly handed down by our parents and ancestors).

    Anyhow by the time we find all this out, it will be a tad too late as we will be in our graves. So while we exist and remain fearful of our maker, tolerance would appear to be the best policy

  68. This is very sensitive issue w.r.t Pakistan’s ideology,Religion and Human Rights. It is very important for the rulers, governing body, law-makers and media to take-up this matter on serious grounds and clearly set a direction for this issue.

    Please! All the stakeholders of Pakistan’s governing body address this matter and provide a transparent law/ decision and reinforce it as per Pakistan’s constitution to close this debate for good.

    Pakistan Zindabad.

  69. The anti-Ahmadiyya activities are the cancer that started it all. Stop the activities against Ahmadis and the nation will learn tolerance. After peace with Ahmadis will come peace with Shiahs and peace in the whole nation.

  70. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other's freedom start.Our beloved prophet's blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  71. GREAT DECISION. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.Dont misinterpret tolerance.your freedom ends where any other's freedom start.Our beloved prophet's blasphemy could not be tolerated at all. Qadyanies are insulting our prophet every moment.How can we promote their products?

  72. Mr. Rafiq, There is no comparison between Ahamadis and Shia Muslims in terms of ideology. Mind it!
    Shia Muslims are targeted by one extremist group only..
    Ahmadis are non-believers of Holy Muhammad PBUH as a last prophet of Allah. Therefore, Ahmadi's are matter of concern for whole Shia Muslims as well..

      • I just wanted to show the difference in the ideology..
        Persecution of any Human without pure justice is absolutely wrong not only in Islam but in any religion and State is responsible for the safeguard of its people and their rights.

        • Sir it seems u don't have enough knowledge(like most Pakistanis) about Ahmadi faiths so please don't post wrong information. Thank you

          • There is no motive other than to inform truth.. this is a basic and profound difference which most Pakistanis knows very well.

            Rest you can elaborate Ahmadis Faith if you like…

  73. I guess dancing is an Islamic act for the Bar's President and drinking a mango juice is unislamic Wow well done.

  74. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  75. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  76. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  77. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  78. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  79. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  80. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  81. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  82. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  83. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  84. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  85. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  86. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  87. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  88. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  89. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  90. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  91. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  92. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  93. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  94. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  95. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  96. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  97. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  98. Completely agree with Humaira…and Haris lets take this example would you buy stuff from any shop whos owner disrespect your father mother or any family member daily?…m sure not

    • Dont you drink coca cola/pepsi? Dont you use products by multinational FMCGs (including your soaps and shampoos) these are companies which are owned in majority by infidels, who reject the claim of our holy prophet as god's messenger, thus insulting us every moment. But we choose to use them anyways. Not just that the softwares that we use the movies that we watch, (and also the adult films) the list goes on and on and on … and not to mention that when we buy our weapons which were developed by those very infidels and use them in times of war and peace … no but you actually make a good point, so lets not buy these things from now on .. lets boycott them … but damn .. that means we would have to discard our clothings items as well .. because all those machines used in our textile sectors were developed by engineers and scientists who disrespect us.

      I wonder what pakistan would look like if we truly are able to discard any such product … !!!

  99. What a stupid way he dragged Zaferullah example here. .. Thousands of lawyers also wrok for Pakistan…. So lawyers become clean Now?

  100. The Ahmadiyya/Qadiyyani issue literally divided the nation. Why state can’t play it’s motherhood role proposed by Mr Jinnah – “you are free to go to your mosques, your temples….” If India is not afraid of a Muslim president why Islam in Pakistan is afraid of other ideologies – it makes no sense to me.

    • That is so because you are naive. We live in Islamic Republic where only muslims can betray and befool other muslims, no one else can and should because we all live in a yellow islamic republic, yellow islamic republic.

  101. Ahmedis do not insult the anyone's religion. It is a lie to say so. They have their beliefs, we have ours. The Quran tells us in Surat Kafiroun how to treat those who believe differently than us. Those who want to harm Ahmedis is any way are going against the Quran. They are also going against the constitution of Pakistan that forbids religious discrimination.

  102. In Secular Turkey it is a criminal offense to insult Kemal Ataturk. In most of "secular" Europe it is a criminal offense to deny that the holocaust took place pretty much exactly as THEY say it did. In "Godless" China, insulting Mao was a criminal offense. Why're you all getting your panties in a bunch because we Muslims won't tolerate being insulted? We have laws that make it a criminal offense to insult the Prophet (PBUH), to deny that he is indeed the last Prophet, and to insult Islam generally….Ahmadiism is an insult to Islam and to our Prophet (PBUH) and we are well within our rights to outlaw their activities and their cult. There is nothing wrong or illegal about it. Don't expect Pakistan to tolerate new dudes popping up claiming to be prophets…doesn't matter if it happens this Thursday or a 100 years ago.

    • I guess my dear MAJ, that no wonder Allah (swt) has condemned you to a living hell by taking from you the basic power of reasoning and compassion. As your punishment, you should suffer the indignity of living through everyday that over 70 percent of the world's population (god forbid) insults our Holy Prophet on daily basis by rejecting his claim as being a prophet of god.

      So for the wise and righteous Allah (swt) sent Quran and bestowed them with understanding and taught them compassion in the actions of Holy Prophet (PBUH). For the wicked too he sent the book but did not grant them the blessing of understanding, thus they will remain disturbed for their entire lifetime till they repent and ask guidance from One true God and ask for his compassion by showing compassion to others by following in the footsteps of our Holy Prophet (PBUH).

  103. to Ahmed Saeed
    You say buying Shezan is like buying from shop whose owner disrespects your father mother or any family member daily.

    Do you eat onions imported from India? Do you watch Indian films?

  104. Alhamdolilah,ahmadies accepted the advice of prophet Mohammad(s.a.w)and believed that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Amad(a.s) is the Same Messiah whose advent was foretold by Huzoor(s.a.w).. People like Humaira sahiba ,Ahmed saeed sahib and Co will wait and wait and wait forever, for the Messiah to come..infact these are the people who insult PROPHET MOHAMMAD (S.A.W) by rejecting his PROPHECY about THE MESSIAH.

  105. this is all rubbish! The NA settled the Ahmadi issue once for all back in 1974 ! I fail to get it why the radicals keep on re-inventing the wheel. Ahmadis, yes non-muslims by all means, are equal citizens of Pakistan and deserve our genuine respect just like Christians, Jews & Hindus. Lets get rid of these ghosts of 70s & 80s & move forward !! Shezan, the company, may be headed by Ahmadies but it offers so many jobs to all those muslim families whose bread-and-butter depends on Shezan!! I drink Shezan and feel no issue with that but as a consumer, the company must add value to its products!! Since childhood, i am seeing it "the same as always" !!

  106. Pakistan has become a sick society , each one just need one excuse to hate other be it religous, ethnic, social, or what so ever. Intollerance is a norm. If you bycott any one do it based on your principals not hate. Eliminate hate from your heart or you will burn your ownself. Please get this country out of vicious hate cycle. Created out of hate of majority, split on hate of language, burning on hate of ethicity and religion.

  107. Stupid decision. Qadiyanis are as much Muslims as any other so called self proclaimed righteous sect out there. Its funny and laughable to call your belief as peaceful while discriminitsting and prosecuting others based on their belief.

  108. it is rubbish to credit Zafarulla for promoting kashmir in the un. he messed it up big time, some say deliberately. but for his mishandling, kashmir would have been resolved a long time ago.

  109. Prophet Muhammed was asked by God to spread HIS message. God did not ask the prophet to force HIS teachings or kill the non-believers. Our so called JAHIL MAULVIS aka local prophets, come up their own version of Islam with all the responsibilty of religious conversions on their shoulders. These JAHILS should be handled with IRON FIST. I am very shocked to see how much JAHALUT has been spread in our society including the lawyers.

  110. Great column! Jinnah's Pakistan was secular with freedom of religion. Pakistan main problem is mixture of religion & politics. Terrorist Wahabis are not declared non-muslims. Although Wahabism is as new as Ahmadi. Because they come with money from Saudi Arabia. http://tinyurl.com/Violent-Islam

  111. A short comment to Humaira Usman Rao & M.A.J.
    You mean that Islam’s Allah Almighty (naoozobilah)is so weak that he has no power s to punish them who ever insults his beloved prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and that is why He has given the authority to the people like you to do His work? Did you ever tried to read the true Islamic history? It seems that you have not a clue what really Islam is. Who was punishing whom in the times of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and which people were in minority? Whose business was destroyed? Who was stopped from preying? Who was not allowed to call himself Muslim? I can tell you something you can get your elders your younger’s, each and every man and women you can gather and do start preying to destroy Ahmadiyat Islam and do everything in your power to destroy them, your foreheads will begin to burn and bleed in "sajdaz" but your prayers will not be heard. Can you defeat ALLAH Almighty?

  112. Faith is a personal matter and government should not legislate any religion. Every person should be entitle to his/her belief. Government should work hard to provide jobs , improve the education system, provide health care, eliminate crimes and corruption, and serve the public with honor and dignity.

  113. Pattoki has load-shedding problems. And enough load has been shed by others that Pattoki cannot send anything other than a sad face 🙁

  114. Waise hamari to aik comment bhi moderator ki approval ke liye jaati hai, aur Humaira Bibi, Rao Ahmed vaghera ki sau sau commenten photocopy hoi hoi hain. Taubah. Khuda Pattoki ka khatma bilkhair kare

  115. M.A.J. – you are an idiot. Your prophet was as false and evil as any other purported prophet. Whatever Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was, he did not commit acts of piracy against merchant caravans, massacre jews, order targeted assassinations, abduct and rape women and 9 year old girls. You-know-who did.

    BTW, i am not an Ahmadi. Was born a Sunni Muslim, but decided to really scrutinize the religion – did a pretty thorough study of the Ahadith – you don't need to read "zionist propaganda" to reach the conclusions i did.

  116. These are the followers of the Prophet (PBUH) who went in to enquire after the health of a woman who threw trash on him every day when she did not do so one day? These excuses for people claim the legacy of a man who God blessed with so much patience and tolerance that he forgave every single person who persecuted him endlessly throughout most of his adult life?

    I quake for Islam.

  117. Pakistan CANNOT afforf extremism.

    Qadianis are equal citizens of Pakistan.

    Well written article, God bless you

  118. AA
    keep up the gooood work Harris Bin Munawar…
    An interesting read …glad to write that it not a waste of tym at all…
    Allah bless you…

  119. Qadiyani's are not muslim thz is the fact and u have to accept the reality. its a muslim state, live here but accept the fact that qadiyani's are not muslims.

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