NB Explains | Ahmadi mosque in Pakistan's Karachi desecrated by Sunni-based TLP radicals; WATCH
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Karachi, Feb 3: In yet another incident of attack on minorities (Ahmadiyya Muslims) in Pakistan, unknown persons attacked an Ahmadi mosque in Karachi, breaking its minarets. According to locals, the attackers were from the extremist Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).
"Qadiani prayer place being attacked by extremists in Karachi, Hashoo Market Saddar," tweeted The Rise News, a non-profit news organization.
In the video, they were wearing helmets and were seen breaking the minarets of the Ahmadi Masjid in Saddar, Karachi, and escaping thereafter.
Pakistan: The ruling muslim majority has attacked minority ahmadi mosque near mobile market in saddar, karachi. Can be seen destroying minarets pic.twitter.com/TKtKzzbogq
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) February 3, 2023
This is the second such incident in a month. Earlier minarets of Ahmadi Jamaat Khata on Jamshed Road were demolished. Five Ahmadi mosques have been attacked in Pakistan in the last three months.
Reportedly, Pakistan Untold, a Twitter page by Pakistan Hindu refugees, said that the ruling Islamist believe that Ahmadis are not Muslims. So, the mob attacks and killings are becoming a regular affair against the Ahmadiyya community, Pakistan has become a country where the people of this community are subjected to extensive persecution including hate speech and violence.
Islamist mob desecrated an Ahmadi mosque in Karachi Pakistan.
— Pakistan Untold (@pakistan_untold) February 3, 2023
According to them, Ahmadis aren't Muslims. And according to Ahmadis, others aren't Muslims.pic.twitter.com/4HnMDqnVKE
It should be noted that since 1947, Pakistan's Ahmadi community had faced persistent systematic discrimination, harassment and attacks. This started to take place after the then-Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto introduced a Constitutional Amendment which specifically targeted the community by declaring them non-Muslims. An ordinance was introduced in 1984 by General Zia-ul-Haq further stripped the community of the right to identify themselves as Muslims and the freedom to practice their religion freely.
TLP workers attack Ahmadi Mosque in Karachi. This is the 5th Ahmadi Mosque attacked in the last 3 months. Where is the outrage? Is any Pakistani even bothered? Where is our collective conscience? Shame on everyone who remains silent at this persecution. pic.twitter.com/8iA9uqiXJs
— Kashif Chaudhry (@KashifMD) February 2, 2023
Besides, as per a Reuters report, Tehrik-e-Labbik (movement of the Prophet's followers) is an extremist Sunni group whose aim is to protect Pakistan's draconian blasphemy laws and punish blasphemers. Evolved in 2015 out of a protest campaign, the movement sought release of Mumtaz Qadri, a police guard who assassinated Pakistan's Punjab governor Salman Taseer in 2011 over his calls to reform blasphemy legislation. Qadri was later executed.
In Pakistan, there have been a growing number of attacks on minorities including Hindus, Christians, Shias and Ahmadis.