It is with great regret that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat confirms that yesterday, 3rd September 2010 its Bait-ul-Zikr mosque in Mardan, Pakistan was attacked by two terrorists. One Ahmadi Muslim, Sheikh Amir Raza was martyred during this attack, whilst further loss was prevented by the bravery of the Ahmadi Muslims charged with securing the premises.

FACTS

On 3rd September 2010 at around 1.05pm local time Mr Ata-ul Hameed was leading the Friday prayers at the Bait-ul-Zikr mosque at Muslimabad, Canal Road, Mardan when two unknown terrorists tried to enter the premises.

Initially one of the attackers threw a grenade towards the Mosque entrance which landed a few metres away. Upon seeing this, the Ahmadi Muslims near the entrance went into the mosque and locked the door from the inside.

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Pir Habib al-Rehman becomes second Ahmadi Muslim killed in Pakistan this week.

It is with great sadness and regret that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat hereby confirms that a well-known and loved Ahmadi Muslim, Pir Habib al-Rehman (60) was martyred earlier today near Sanghar in Sindh Province.

According to details currently available Pir Habib-al-Rehman was on his way to his farm when two masked assailants approached his vehicle and shot him twice. One of the shots fired was directly at his head. He was rushed to hospital by his nephew and three labourers who were with him at the time, but was pronounced dead on arrival. The perpetrators of the crime immediately fled the scene and remain unidentified. Read the full story

MUZAFFARABAD: The government and local clerics refused to shelter around 500 flood-affected families belonging to the Ahmadiyya community in South Punjab’s relief camps. Not only that, the government also did not send relief goods to the flood-hit areas belonging to the Ahmadiyya community, The Express Tribune has learnt during a visit to the devastated Punjab districts of Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.

For its part, the government claims that all relief goods are being distributed among survivors without discrimination. And that all survivors have been sheltered in relief camps without distinction. The flood-devastated families from the Ahmadiyya community have strongly criticised the government’s “discriminatory attitude” even at a time when the entire country is reeling from the ravages of the worst flooding in living memory. Read the full story

In a recent episode of the MTA International Islamic talk show ‘Rah-e-Huda’, the former Minister for Communications in Pakistan, Sherry Rehman, spoke about the ongoing persecution and cruelty inflicted upon Ahmadis in Pakistan. During the broadcast she said:

“If we look at the Ahadith (sayings) of the Holy Prophet pbuh, it is clear that whatever is happening to Ahmadis is completely un-Islamic”

Expressing her disappointment and concern, Sherry Rehman said that because of the long history of persecution borne by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Pakistan there seemed little prospect that its security could be guaranteed by the State in the future. She also said that Article 20 of the Pakistani Constitution granted minorities very comprehensive rights and that because the Government had declared Ahmadis to be a minority they should at least be afforded those rights and protection. Read the full story