LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) – In a tragic incident highlighting ongoing violence against minorities in Pakistan, gunmen shot and killed a member of the Ahmadi community and injured another individual on Friday in eastern Pakistan. This attack marks the second killing of an Ahmadi in just one week, emphasizing the rising threats faced by this minority group.
Authorities have not yet determined the motive behind the recent violence; however, police confirmed the arrest of two suspects in connection with the earlier shooting that took place in Bhulair, a village located in Punjab province. The Ahmadi community, already vulnerable due to their marginalized status, continues to face deadly violence fueled by widespread religious intolerance in the region.
Amir Mahmood, a spokesperson for the Ahmadi community, identified the victim as Muhammad Asif, asserting that the killing was directly linked to Asif's faith. He also reported that another person sustained injuries during the assault, further illustrating the dangers faced by Ahmadis in Pakistan. Mahmood condemned the attacks as part of a broader pattern of assaults and hate-driven campaigns against Ahmadis across various regions in the country.
The most recent attack occurred just one week after a horrifying incident in Karachi, where a mob of Islamists brutally beat a member of the Ahmadi community to death during a demonstration near an Ahmadi place of worship. This shocking event underscores the violent climate surrounding religious minorities in Pakistan, particularly against Ahmadis, who have long faced persecution.
With an approximate population of 250 million, Pakistan is home to around half a million Ahmadis. The Ahmadi faith, which emerged as an offshoot of Islam in the late 19th century, has been subject to severe scrutiny and violence in Pakistan since the country declared Ahmadis non-Muslims in 1974. The state's stance has allowed for a culture of discrimination and violence against Ahmadis, rendering their homes and places of worship frequent targets for Sunni militants who view them as heretical.
This recurring violence not only poses a grave threat to the safety and well-being of Ahmadis but also highlights a concerning trend of intolerance and hatred toward religious minorities in Pakistan. As these attacks continue, the international community and human rights organizations are likely to face mounting pressure to advocate for the protection of these vulnerable populations and to address the systemic injustices that enable such violence.
