Pakistan: Ahmadis brace for violence, trampling of rights in Rawalpindi

The poster and banners, inciting hate against Ahmadis are seen throughout the Satellite Town and the surrounding areas and many show the instigators have proudly added their name on the banners.

A hate banner, calling for an anti-Ahmadiyya action rally on January 29

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Int'l Desk
Source/Credit: Jama'at Ahmadiyya Pakistan
By Imran Jattala | January 26, 2011

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community is under siege in Rawalpindi, and militants promise to create chaos in the name of religion.

According to Al-Ufaq, a news website, the Satellite Town area of Rawalpindi city, adjacent to the Pakistani capital Islamabad, is now a scene of countless banners and posters containing hate content and threats against Ahmadi Muslims.

The hate climate has been amplified by a recent call for unrest against Ahmadi Muslims by the banned militant organization, JuD, a group that has been named in several terrorists attacks in and outside of Pakistan.

The Ahmadiyya community says their centre in Satellite Town, Rawalpindi has been the target of extremists’ hate and the militants have now declared an all out war against Ahmadis’ right to worship there.

The countless anti-Ahmadiyya banners hang high throughout the satellite town and the surrounding areas are striking fear in the hearts of the besieged community, say the Ahmadi members.

A hate banner, calling for an anti-Ahmadiyya action rally

The extremist groups, namely JuD and Khatam-e Nubuwwat have planned a massive rally against Ahmadi Muslims on Sunday, January 29th.

“The poster plastered around Rawalpindi [are] instigating hatred,” said a twitter post by the community representative in Pakistan.

“The rally is supported by JuD, not a pleasant combination,” the statement further stated.

The fanatics have continuously waged a violent war against Ahmadi Muslims to practically deny them the right to practice their faith, many rights organizations and media outlets have noted over the years.

The Ahmadi Muslims say they follow Islam in its purest form which was practiced the Holy Founder of Islam, the Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

The Ahmadiyya Muslims also points to the country’s founding father, Mohammad Ali Jinnah who had envisioned equal rights for all citizens to worship as they see fit.

“Every Ahmadi has a right to perform religious duties, given by Mr. Jinnah in [his] 11 August speech. Why it’s not [OK] for Ahmadis?” asked the Ahmadiyya community representative.

The poster and banners, inciting hate against Ahmadis are seen throughout the Satellite Town and the surrounding areas and many show the instigators have proudly added their names on the banners.

A hate banner, calling for an anti-Ahmadiyya action rally on January 29

A large poster sponsored by one Arshad Mahmood Awaan and one Sardar Touqeer Hussain is seen hung at Boher Bazar road, calling for the businessmen of the area to join the messive anti-Ahmadiyya relly.

Another banner, sponsered by one Sharjeel Mir and one Sheikh Arsalan Hafiz invites the entire city of Rawalpindi to attend the rally.

Yet another banner placed by one Hafiz Mohammad Shafiq of Wahabi group beseeches the entire Muslim nation to show up for the event.

“[How can] you still expect someone to protect Ahmadis of Satellite Town?,” the Ahmadiyya representative asks highlighting one hate-banner hanging right next to the Banni Thana police station.

Ahmadis do not expect much in terms of morality from the extremist clerics, they say, but “How is this even legal?”, they do ask.

Read the Al Ufaq post here: Pakistan: Hate Campaign against Ahmadis of Satellite Town, Rawalpindi