PTI Is Once Again Politicising Hate Speech Against Minorities To Fuel Extremist Sentiments

PTI Is Once Again Politicising Hate Speech Against Minorities To Fuel Extremist Sentiments
Leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) appear to be once again spewing hatred against the persecuted Ahmadi community to woo their rightist fanbase. In their recent speeches, PTI leader Ali Muhammad and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed spewed venom against the Ahmadiyya community.

On May 8 during the PTI rally in Abbottabad, PTI leader Ali Muhammad during a speech referred to a resolution he had recommended to the National Assembly which was unanimously adopted, and said the resolution had 'broken the backs' of the 'Qadianis', which is a derogatory term used for members of the Ahmadiyya community.

https://twitter.com/KashifMD/status/1523462273947234304

The resolution by Ali Muhammad made it mandatory to write 'Khatim-un-Nabiyeen' (Seal of the Prophets) alongside the Prophet Muhammad's (Peace Be Upon Him) name whenever it appeared in official documents, text books or other written material.

https://twitter.com/Ali_MuhammadPTI/status/1275097119087607809

On April 21, Sheikh Rasheed, during a PTI rally in Lahore, called the city of Lahore the 'fortress of Khatam-e-Nabuwat'. He praised leaders of the Majlis-e-Ahrar, a fundamentalist religious party that was responsible for the anti-Ahmadi riots of 1953, that resulted in the killing of thousands of Ahmadis.

https://twitter.com/KashifMD/status/1517245600483495936

"Lahore is the city of Sorash, it is the city of Ataullah Shah Bukhari, and it is the fortress of Khatam-e-Nabuwat" he said, referring to Sorash Kashmiri and Syed Ataullah Shah Bukhari, founders of the Majlis-e-Ahrar.

People on social media are criticizing the two for inciting hate and violence towards minority groups for political gains.

https://twitter.com/nailainayat/status/1523603416328847360

https://twitter.com/Bhuut_/status/1523628633306263553

https://twitter.com/MehrTarar/status/1523591180596150272

 

Some say it is reminiscent of their behavior in 2018, when PTI tried to garner support for the ouster of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif, by alleging he was considering allowing Ahmadis the right to vote.

 

https://twitter.com/KashifMD/status/1514416174100062220

Some people are also pointing out the hypocrisy of PTI leader Shireen Mazari's appeal for intervention against the ongoing blasphemy cases against PTI over the Madina incident. when the party itself is using the religion card against opponents.