Ahmadis demand end to campaign against them to ensure country’s security 

LAHORE: The anti-Ahmadiyya campaign has perturbed the Ahmadi community and they have demanded the government to end the campaign at the earliest to ensure their safety and security in the country.

The anti-Ahmadiyya campaign comes at a time when the National Action Plan (NAP), which criminalises the proliferation of material which propagates hate, is being implemented across the country and movement for ‘finality of Prophethood’ is in full swing by the activists of religious groups in the form of nationwide protests and sit-ins.

Garbage-drums bear anti-Ahmadiyya slogans near the sit-in camp of Tehreek Siraat-e-Mustaqeem led by its leader Allama Ashraf Asif Jalali and other religious parties at Faisal Chowk (formerly Chairing Cross) in Lahore. The booth of city traffic police near Faisal Chowk has been inscribed with a slogan: “Countless curses on Qadianis.” The slogan on garbage drums reads: “Qadiani House.”

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya (JA) Spokesman Saleemuddin termed the campaign inflammatory and said that the campaign has increased the vulnerability of the community.  He said, “We have noticed the anti-Ahmadiyya campaign in the whole country and especially in Lahore”.

He further clarified, “We have nothing to do with changes brought in the Elections Act 2017 vis-à-vis Khatm-e-Nabuwwat. The government had not contacted us.” He added, “Whether they brought changes for political purposes or on the pressure of international community, we had no stakes and were not consulted.”

However, he said that they were being criminalised just for nothing and were being persecuted for the crime which they did not even commit.

Saleemuddin also said that the law enforcement agencies should take notice of the campaign launched against Ahmadis by the religious activists as this was also against the NAP. He also demanded action against those responsible for the campaign.

According to him, the anti-Ahmadiyya campaign has put a question mark on the performance of law enforcement agencies and the National Action Plan.

When contacted, Punjab Police Spokesman Nayab Haider showed ignorance about the issue and said that the police will check the campaign.

It is pertinent to mention here that Allama Asif Jalali has announced to continue protest across Lahore despite after an agreement was reached between Tehreek Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah leader Khadim Hussain Rizvi with the government. Ashraf Jalali and Khadim Hussain Rizvi have accused the government of bringing changes in the Elections Act 2017 to appease the Ahmadis, a move which the government outrightly denies.

Jalali has demanded the resignation of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah allegedly for his remarks in favour of Ahmadis. Rana Sanaullah has tendered an apology for his remarks but religious factions are adamant to get his resignation.