Innocent people have been killed in our own backyard
Last night Gunjranwala was Gaza. Seven-year-old Hira, her sister Kainat and 55-year-old Bashiran bibi were burned alive after a violent mob set fire to their homes and then openly celebrated the barbarity. The mob was retaliating against an alleged blasphemous post on Facebook and considered it well within its right to burn alive three innocent people not even directly involved in the incident.
Just as the long standing and well entrenched pro-Israeli bias in the Western media and governments is hard to shake and allows the IDF to kill and destroy with impunity, the victims in Gujranwala were Ahmadis who face an apartheid like state backed persecution in Pakistan. The constitution of the land declares them non-Muslim although the group claims to be within the fold of Islam. Ahmadis are prohibited from preaching their religion or posing as Muslims, an offence that carries a three-year jail term under the Pakistan Penal Code. Ahmadis can, however, also be booked under the more draconian provisions of the said penal code that prescribe the death penalty for blasphemy. Any expression of faith by an Ahmadi can potentially be construed as blasphemy and provide a pretext for mobs to ransack Ahmadi homes and burn their inhabitants alive.
Unfortunately, when the highest court of the country was approached to seek some relief for Ahmadis and have these inhuman laws overturned, the Supreme Court not only rejected the plea but also though fit to remark that the very existence of Ahmadis was akin to blasphemy. This was 1992. Not much has changed since. Every Pakistani who wishes to acquire a national identity card or passport today, in order to be recognised as a Muslim, must denounce the leader of the Ahmadi community and declare him an impostor. Ahmadis cannot vote and have no representation or voice in political discourse. Incidents of target killings and mob violence have been taking place with increasing frequency. Yet many Pakistanis do not feel any outrage when such injustice is perpetrated at home and there continues to be a deafening silence across all strata of society.
Just as one cannot expect the recent massacre in Gaza to shame the United Nations Security Council into unequivocally condemning the Israelis and declaring a Palestinian state, similarly it would be wishful thinking to expect that the Gujranwala incident will bring about a change of heart in the Pakistani parliament and that it will act to repeal the anti-Ahmadi laws in the near future. The anti-Ahmadi bias runs too deep and is interwoven with the political, economic and religious interests of groups that are extremely powerful and totally unwilling to concede any ground on this issue. The media has been criminally silent and millions will celebrate Eid without knowing that two children were burned alive not in Gaza, but in our own backyard.
Is there anything then that can be done for the oppressed and marginalised Ahmadis of Pakistan? To start with, why not show support and solidarity for the victims by speaking up. It is heartening to see social media standing up to propaganda waged by the strong and well-funded pro-Israeli lobby, and creating a counter-narrative that has truly brought the world’s attention to the real facts on the ground. We too can raise our voice against the anti-Ahmadi apartheid in Pakistan to drown out the noise of hate and bigotry. If coming out on the streets is not an option, let us at least reserve one tweet, one post and one message of support for the victims of this horrific tragedy in Gujranwala and remember them in our prayers along with the people of Gaza.
I salute your courage and thank you for showing empathy with the inncent victims of state sponsored murder.
Shame on every pakistani , who is sitting and watching such babariac acts with innocent ahmadies , shame on so called Mullahs who provoke illiterates people to do kinds of things . Allah is watching and one day inshallah everyone who is involved directley or indirectly in theses kind of acts has to pay the price
keep it up these values sir.
We pakistanis have turned into beasts and animals. I could not sleep the whole night after watching those animals dancing on the roads while children and women were burning. May Allah be their avenger. .
Never seen such a coward press & such coward citizens of Pakistan! Who are afraid of the MULLAS ,they can't raise their voice against BARBARIANS!
Highly condemable act. Hate to the so called champions of Islam. Unless some of these pseudu mullahs are not hanged for their inhuman acts such atrocities will continue unfortunately. We stand with Ahmadi community, wt if they are not muslim…they are human beings and citizen of Pakistan first.
Sir, you were my teacher back in law school and I remember the time that you told us that Ahmadis could not vote in the general elections. It was the first time I had really realized that the Pakistan state was so anti-ahmadi and was actively discriminating against them. I was remembering that just yesterday. I personally apologize to you and to all the Ahmadis around our country and especially the families of victims of persecution for the suffering you have had to endure due to our intolerance and barbarism. I hope you know that not all of us are the same, and that we stand with you and we stand against the injustice being done to your community. May Allah bring peace and good sense to our country and make us all more human
Such incident is not new , before same incidents happend in chaksakander, nankana sahib, jhando sahi sialkot and last year in shamshabad kasure and despite police were there houses were looted.Actually present government silently favouring anti ahmadiyya forces since yeyearly and no action taken to protect Ahmadis and they will never do.
While maintaining one's own sanity and endorsing the right of humanity is much appreciated with prayers for all those who'll join hands in saving the minorities of Pakistan. It's not only for anti Ahmadiyya but for raising voices and making constructive positive action in eradicating ignorance against the development of society.
Mir Nisar Ahmed Thank you Sir, I appreciates your courage and like your article "Speak up for Gujranwala"
Humanity has died in Pakistan. There is lot of Hippocrasy. They cry about Palestinians. Over here we are killing innocent & defenceless kids. In Palestine it a two way violance but in Pakistan it one way. Ahmadis are being Slaughtered by Official Muslims but Practically Beasts for reason at all. It is really shameful to see that press & govt. both ignore it and does not take any action.
Pakistn has turned into a country of dead souls where there is lot of religion but ni HUMANITY. Religion with out Humanity is a disaster.
Humanity has died in Pakistan. There is lot of Hippocrasy. They cry about Palestinians. Over here we are killing innocent & defenceless kids. In Palestine it is a two way violance but in Pakistan it is one way. Ahmadis are being Slaughtered by Official Muslims but Practically Beasts for no reason at all. It is really shameful to see that press & govt. both ignore it and does not take any action.
Pakistn has turned into a country of dead souls where there is lot of religion but ni HUMANITY. Religion with out Humanity is a disaster.
Gazans and ahmedis are two very different groups – with two very different backgrounds and history. They can not be compared equally. Ahmedis took a 1.4 century old religion and perverted it with false messiahs and prophets –
If ahmedis follow the Quran then the Quran clearly states there will be no other prophet – although the ahmedi Mira ghulam has manipulated some of islams quranic teachings. So. Quite rightly jn a Sunni Islamic Republic in quite amazed at the tolerance Of right wing Sunnis towards ahmedis.
Hi AZ, can you please quote the verse in the holy Quran where it actually says that the Holy prophet Hadhrat Mohammed Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him is the last prophet.
And secondly if no prophet can come after our beloved holy prophet in any form whatsoever then how do you propose Hadhrat Isa ( Jesus peace be upon him) would come back? Would the ulema take his prophethood away from him . Or would he convert to Islam in the heavens?
It’s easier to see things from other peoples eyes and it’s an easy way, to believe whatever our elders or scholars have told us. That is why Allah has taught us this beautiful prayer ” Ihdi nassiratal Mustaqeem” so that we are always seeking the right path ourselves and do our own research.
So please if you can give me answer to my 2 questions hopefully we can discuss it further in a very civil way inshallah.
The Quran clearly states the punishment for perversion of its teachings. VERY clearly. And supreme courts and judges are well versed with quranic law vs ahmedis beliefs.
Let’s not make Pakistan sound draconian – when it’s only actually following shariah in what is an ISLAMIC REPUBLIC. lest we chose lawlessness to suit perverted faiths.
Religion is for Humans. You people act like Animals & have no regard for Human life and still have the courage to speak for ISLAM. Study Islam First then comment. If Pakistani leaders were learned people & well versed in Quran Pakistan would not have been at the bottom of the world. You have fallen below animals by killing innocent kids. Ahmadi belief is right or wrong is not the debate over here & it has nothing to do with their right to live.
Religious extremism has put Pakistan on a suicidal path. You are destroying your own society & country. Your Hatred towards Ahmadis have made you oblivious towards your own eventual destruction being perpetrated by these inhuman acts of violance.
WAKE_UP BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.
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