Home Critical Analysis/Archives Plight of Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan

Comments and Views of Impartial Individuals and Groups

Those who introduced anti-Ahmadiyya legislation, and others who upheld them later, have supported their position through State propaganda machinery in the national and international spheres. They think that people, at home and abroad, are convinced of their reasoning. That is not so. Hereunder, we produce some views of impartial observers who have condemned the Pakistan government's policy in this regard in no uncertain words.

By a constitutional amendment, the National Assembly has stripped half a million members of the Ahmadiyya Community of their religious status as Muslims. The ex-communication of such a large number claiming to be Muslims by a political institution is a unique event in the 1400 years' history of Islam. The Guardian (UK), 9 September 1974

There can be little doubt, therefore, that Ordinance XX of 1984 has resulted in a substantial curtailment of the freedom of Ahmadis to practice and profess their religion. Report of the International Commission of Jurists 19S7-Pakistan Human Rights after Martial Law

The (United Nations) Sub Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities: Expresses its grave concern at the promulgation of Ordinance XX of 26 April, 1984, which, prima facie, violates the right to liberty and security of the persons, the right to freedom from arbitrary arrest or detention, the right to freedom of thought, expression, conscience and religion, the right of religious minorities to profess and practice their own religion, and the right to an effective legal remedy. E/CN. 4/Sub:2/J985/L-42 27 August] 985

The (Zia) regime has succeeded in depoliticising society. In this atmosphere, it is only natural that political advance should be replaced by dogmatic regression.… Mr. Bhutto thought he could ride the tiger of untamed religion in 1974 when he amended the Constitution to declare the Qadianis as non-Muslims. But the tiger was appeased only for a while. It had tasted blood and was to be tamed by no one. Playing to the religious gallery came to a head in the summer of 1977. Much the same with the latest decree (Ordinance XX). Sooner or later, its framers will depart from the scene but their handiwork on which clowns are already imposing edifice of intolerance and hate will remain. Dismantling this edifice later will not be easy. Mr. Ayaz Mir in the Viewpoint, Lahore: 10 May 1984

All men of goodwill should condemn strongly this last move (Ordinance XX) of President Zia to perpetuate himself in Pakistan. It is most unthinkable for this terrible and barbaric law to be promulgated by a Muslim President in a Muslim country against a Muslim Community. President Zia's law is a cheap and mean attempt to use religion to win political favour at a time he sees an end to his rule. Editorial in The Pioneer, Kumasi, Ghana: 23 May 1984

I thus urge our compatriots to think carefully. No one has any right to decide how others should practice their faith, which is a matter between God and the individual. Islam declares: No compulsion in Islam. I therefore abhor this Ordinance and demand its immediate withdrawl. It is totally wrong to exploit people in politics in the name of ideology, whether the ideology is presented in the holy name of religion, or in the shape of extreme tendencies belonging to the Right Wing or the Left Wing. Istiqlal party does not intend to brook any nonsense in politics, and we stand clear of this most detestable, inhuman, uncivilized and Un-Islamic Ordinance. Mr. Zahoor Butt, Chairman Tehrik Istiqlal Great Britain

Lahore High Court Bar Association Rejects Sectarian Move (by our reporter) A resolution commending the Anti-Qadiani Ordinance was defeated by the general house of the Lahore High Court Bar last Thursday.…… According to him (President of the bar — ed.), the mover of the resolution. Dr. Abdul Basit had promised that he would not table the resolution but during the meeting he came on the dais and tabled it. When put to vote, the Resolution was rejected 125-12. Viewpoint: Lahore, 24 May 1984

The Government of Pakistan has not only persecuted Ahmadi Muslims by promulgating Ordinance XX and by subsequent arrests and arbitrary detention of Ahmadis and curtailment of protected rights; government officials persist in public incitement of anti-Ahmadiyya sentiment. Human Rights Advocates, Inc. California USA- Report January 1987

It is patently obvious that Ordinance XX violates these international standards (given in UN Charter, Universal Declaration and the International Covenant) because it penalizes Ahmadi Muslims for believing they are Muslim and for worshipping and assembling as they wish. A Commentary by Karen Parker, J.D. of Humanitarian Law Project, California 90048-December 1993

The Ordinance promulgated by the President on April 26, 1984 goes a long way in accepting the most extreme anti-Ahmadi demands and transforms much of the daily life of the Community into a criminal offence.…… Yahanan Friedmann in his book ‘Prophecy Continuous’

Now, therefore be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate Concurring), that it is the sense of the Congress that the Government of Pakistan should :- Repeal Ordinance XX; Cease persecution of, and discrimination against Ahmadis; Provide that any trial of civilians by military courts be reviewed by civilian courts; and Restore all internationally recognized human rights to all of the people of Pakistan. US Congressman Tony P Hall introduces Resolution. Congressional Record July 17, 1986 Vol: 132 No.93

The law applied specifically to the Ahmadi minority is particularly questionable and in some respects frankly unwarranted. Reported of Special Rapporteur to the UN Commission on Human Rights - 2 Jan 1996

Karachi; March 23: Six former Judges of the Supreme Court and High Court have demanded that freedom to practice the religion of one's choice be guaranteed to all in Pakistan. The current restrictions on forms of prayers and the right to recite the Kalima Tayyaba by members of Ahmadiyya Community is a gross transgression of the rights guaranteed to the citizens of the state, they said. They said, “It is a negation of the concept of human rights.” The signatories are Mr. Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim, former Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Mr. Mohammad Ali Saeed and Mr. Fazle Ghani Khan, former Judges of the West Pakistan High Court, and Mr. Abdul Hafeez Memon, Mr. A.Q. Helipota and Mr. G.M. Shah, former Judges of the Sind High Court. Statement of six Judges published in the daily Dawn, Karachi, of March 24, 1985

As a citizen of Pakistan, I honestly feel that at present our treatment of the Ahmadiyya Community is indeed unjust. Mr. Haneef Ramay - Extract from his article in the daily Jang, Lahore : 11 February 1985

AN ISLAMIC GOVERNMENT MUST KILL ALL AHMADIS!
Pattoki: The Chief Mulla (Khatib) of the Central Mosque in Pattoki prepared and distributed in July 1997, a hand bill in which he issued an edict that Ahmadis are heretics and apostates, as such their position is unforgivable, and Muslims should neither have any commercial dealings with them nor join them on social occasions to share their grief and happiness. According to him, Ahmadis, being apostates, must be killed by an Islamic state, but since no government in Pakistan has ever been sincere to the imposition of Sharia, this law of Sharia has yet not been implemented. The Government took no action against the mulla.

AHMADI HARASSED, PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED & BEATEN MERCILESSLY
Chak Jhumra, District Faislabad 18 December 1996: Mr. Munawar Ahmad, an Ahmadi of Chak Jhumra who joined Ahmadiyya Community two years ago, was made a target of mischief, which could flare up and result in very serious consequences for the victim. He was engaged in a discussion by a few shopkeepers who asked him to bring Tafsir-i-Saghir , the short commentary of the Holy Quran by Hadrat Khalifa-tul-Masih II . When he brought the book, they started abusing him and shouting, that he was talking ill of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (May peace be on him), and started beating him mercilessly. A large crowed gathered around him. He was dragged, beaten severely and taken to the police station in a bad physical condition. Local mullas demanded that a case under 295C i.e. the Blasphemy Law be registered against him. Mr. Munawar had to remain behind bars for three days before release. ‘You are getting off lightly’: he was told.