The Ehtram-e-Ramazan ordinance which was first introduced in 1981 and was passed on the 25th of June 1981 is an ordinance with the official purpose of providing measures to observe the sanctity of the month of Ramazan. The ordinance extends to the whole of Pakistan and has been in force since it has been passed. The ordinance prohibits any person who, according to the tenets of Islam, is under an obligation to fast; to eat, drink or smoke in a …
A Pakistani-American lawyer has made a name for herself by taking down international terrorists in Court. Since 2009, 37-year-old Zainab Ahmad has worked as an Assistant United States Attorney in New York, and so far she has prosecuted 13 people for terrorism, without losing a single case. Zainab who grew up in suburban Long Island, New York says she had planned to be a hospital administrator, but things went sideways after the September 11th attacks, and she ended up at Columbia …
Imam Mostafizur Rahman was hacked with sharp weapons indiscriminately inside the mosque around 9pm The imam of an Ahmadiyya mosque in Mymensingh was critically injured after he was hacked by a group of three youths inside the mosque Monday night in a suspected militant attack. Imam Mostafizur Rahman, 35, of Khanpur mosque in Ishwarganj area was hacked with sharp weapons indiscriminately around 9pm after the Esha prayers. The attackers tried to flee as locals came to his rescue. The imam …
The European Union delegation celebrated its first Europe Day celebrations in Pakistan by arranging a mini ‘Euro Village’ in the capital city of Islamabad. The event was led by EU’s envoy to Pakistan Jean-Francois Cautain. The family friendly event was held on May 6th at the Lok Virsa Heritage Museum and highlighted the diverse cultures of the European Union Member States through food, musical performances, and art exhibits. It was organized to raise awareness about the different cultural traditions of …
Pakistan has announced plans to increase Taxes for a non-Muslim majority town. The tax increase will impact residential homes and businesses. The Town of Rabwah’s Municipal Committee announced the proposed tax increase through a public notice which was published in a local newspaper on April 29th. The proposed new rates amount to an estimated 100% increase. Majority of the town’s residents are of Ahmadiyya faith, a sect which considers itself Muslim but has been declared non-Muslim under Pakistani law. Meanwhile, …
Pakistan’s has arrested a Hindu businessman in southern Balochistan province for allegedly sharing blasphemous content on WhatsApp. Prakash Kumar, a Hindu business owner was arrested under Sections 295-A and 295-C of Pakistan’s penal code for allegedly sharing a blasphemous image on WhatsApp, a popular messaging application.The police station where Prakash was being held was attacked by an angry mob, led by an influential religious cleric and a politician from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League party, demanding that police hand him …
A Pakistani Hindu has become the first Pakistani to be awarded the Emerging Young Leaders Award. The award is granted by the U.S. Department of State to a group of young leaders in recognition of their efforts to promote positive social change in their communities. Raj Kumar who is a member of the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network won the award after serving in various leadership positions within Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network and has worked on projects focusing on countering violent extremist voices …
One of Pakistan’s leading political party which calls for “moderation and freedom to practice the religion” has reaffirmed its support for Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf(PTI) which is headed by cricketer turned politician Imran Khan tweeted its support for the blasphemy laws and endorsed the death penalty for those who commit of Blasphemy. In series of tweets, PTI stated that the party severely condemns ‘false propaganda that the party plans to make changes to blasphemy laws’. PTI’s official twitter …
Former Pakistani President General (Retired) Pervez Musharraf has said that his sympathies are with Pakistan’s persecuted Ahmadiyya Muslim community. He made the remarks while speaking at the Churchill Center in Washington D.C on Wednesday. While answering a question from a Rabwah Times reporter about the country’s anti-Ahmadiyya laws, Musharraf said: This is a very sensitive question that you are asking really, personally, I believe in tolerance, I believe in moderation, I believe religion should be between him and his god …
A doctor from the minority Ahmadiyya community was shot dead in the Pakistani city of Lahore on Friday. 69-year-old Ashfaq Ahmad and his 11-year-old grandson were making their way to the local Mosque for Friday prayers when they were attacked by a lone gunman on a motorbike near Moon Market. The popular market area is situated in the suburb of Allama Iqbal Town. Dr Ashfaq Ahmed had retired as a professor from Lahore University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences. He held …
A Pakistani man who killed a prominent lawyer has given himself up to the local Police. According to Police sources, 36-year-old Muhammad Rashid, a security guard by profession turned himself into the Police and plead guilty to the murder of 69-year-old Saleem Latif. Advocate Latif who also served as the city head of minority Ahmadiyya community was shot dead on Thursday morning. In a statement given to Police, Arshad who goes by the nickname ‘Kodu’ said that he killed Latif …
A Pakistani man who claimed to be a Muslim Reformer has been arrested by the country’s security forces for Blasphemy. According to family members, Nasir Sultani was arrested from Islamabad Airport on March 21st. Days earlier, on March 17th the BBC reported that Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of Islamabad High Court had added Sultani’s name onto the ECL (exit control list) and instructed the FIA (Federal Investigation Agency) to prepare a detailed report on him. 51-year-old Sultani claimed to be …