At the behest of a charged mob, police in Daska, District Sialkot, arrested 22 Ahmadis who had gathered at their place of worship for religious prayers. This grave violation of human rights and Pakistan’s constitution further escalates the ongoing persecution of Ahmadis in the country.
According to Mr. Amir Mahmood, spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya Community Pakistan, a mob gathered outside the Ahmadiyya place of worship, chanting provocative slogans. When local Ahmadis called the police for protection, the authorities instead arrested 23 Ahmadis, including two children aged 11 and 14. The mob outside the police station pressured the authorities to file criminal charges against them. The magistrate later sent 22 of them to jail on judicial remand, while the 11-year-old child was released.
In another incident, police in Bhagtanwala, District Sargodha, registered a criminal case against 23 Ahmadis for gathering for prayers. Additionally, last month, an Ahmadi woman, Bushra Abid, was arrested in Gujranwala under baseless allegations. In a separate case, Gujranwala police demolished a minaret of a 120-year-old Ahmadi place of worship using a grinder. When questioned, instead of responding, the police arrested five Ahmadis and four locals, who were released after a few hours.
Mr. Amir Mahmood condemned the rising wave of hostility against Ahmadis in Pakistan, stating that even worshipping within private spaces is no longer tolerated. He emphasised that this persecution contradicts internationally recognized rights under Article 18 of the International Charter of Human Rights and Article 20 of Pakistan’s Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom.
In 2025 alone, graves of 91 Ahmadis have been desecrated, and minarets of five Ahmadi places of worship have been demolished by police officials. Religious extremists continue to fuel hatred, harassing peaceful Ahmadis for their faith.
The spokesperson urged the authorities and the people of Pakistan to condemn religious extremism and protect the rights of Ahmadi citizens. He warned that such actions tarnish Pakistan’s global image and violate fundamental human rights.