A rights organisation has raised concern over a series of attacks targeting members of Pakistan’s Ahmadiyya community, including the shooting of a father and son in Punjab….reports Asian Lite News Desk
A minority rights organisation has raised concern over what it described as continuing violence and intimidation against members of Pakistan’s Ahmadiyya community, following a series of attacks in Punjab province.
The Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM) said two Ahmadi Muslims, Malik Mahmood Mubarak, 70, and his 40 year old son Ayaz, were shot while travelling home in Sargodha district on September 19. Both survived the attack.
According to local media reports, the two men were travelling home from work when an unidentified motorcyclist opened fire near a private college in Sargodha. They were taken to hospital for treatment and later referred to Lahore because of the seriousness of their injuries. Police were investigating the incident.
VOPM said a first information report was registered the following day under the Pakistan Penal Code. It said the attackers fled on an unregistered motorcycle and that the complainant had indicated he could identify the suspects if they were brought before him.
The organisation called for the immediate protection of Ahmadi community members, the arrest of those responsible and measures to prevent further attacks. It also criticised what it described as a lack of accountability for violence against religious minorities.
The shooting came weeks after the killing of another Ahmadi community member in Punjab. Mirza Safdar Mahmood, 65, was shot dead in Mandi Bahauddin on September 2 while travelling in the area. According to reports, unidentified assailants opened fire on him near Eidgah Road. Police registered a case against unidentified suspects and began an investigation.
VOPM also linked the latest violence to broader concerns over legal restrictions affecting Ahmadis in Pakistan. The organisation referred to a recent court decision concerning Rohani Khazayeen, a 23 volume collection of writings by the founder of the Ahmadiyya community, and said the ruling had wider implications for the community’s religious expression.
The rights body argued that legal restrictions and attacks against Ahmadis should be addressed alongside measures to protect them from violence. It called on Pakistani authorities to investigate attacks, prosecute those responsible and review laws and administrative measures that it said contribute to discrimination.
The concerns come amid longstanding international scrutiny of the treatment of Ahmadis in Pakistan. UN human rights bodies have previously raised concerns about discrimination, attacks on places of worship and intimidation of members of the community. A UN committee has also expressed concern about a lack of accountability for attacks and harassment targeting religious minorities, including Ahmadis.
Pakistan’s legal framework places specific restrictions on Ahmadis’ religious activities, while UN bodies have previously called for measures to protect freedom of religion or belief and address discrimination.
The latest incidents have renewed attention on the security of Ahmadi community members in Punjab and on calls from rights groups for authorities to ensure accountability for attacks.
