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Asia

Ahmadi graves desecrated in Pakistan

Pakistan’s minority Ahmadi Muslims say scores of headstones have been destroyed by Pakistani authorities at a cemetery in Sheikhupura. Amir Mahmood, a spokesman for the Ahmadiyya Community said the incident took place in Chak 79, a village in the Nawankot area of ​​Sheikhupura district. Mahmood said locals, backed by Pakistani authorities desecrated 35 – 40 Ahmadi graves. He added that the issue arose after locals opposed a plan by Ahmadis to build a funeral home. BBC Urdu reported that village …

US ‘deeply disturbed’ by anti-Ahmadi campaign in Pakistan

The United States has said it is “deeply disturbed” by the ongoing campaign against the Ahmadiyya Community in Pakistan. The remark was made by Sam Brownback, U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, on May 12 on Twitter. In his tweet Ambassador Brownback said: “Deeply disturbed by the rhetoric against the Ahmadi Muslim Community in Pakistan in discussions about the National Commission for Minorities. We urge government officials to promote inclusion and respect for all.” Ambassador Brownback’s message comes just days …

Pakistani writer calls Ahmadis ‘worthy of death’

Pakistan’s writer and director Khalil-Ur-Rehman Qamar on Wednesday labeled the country’s minority Ahmadis ‘worthy of death’ during an interview with Parvez Jamil Mir. Qamar made the remarks while answering a question on the inclusion of Ahmadis in Pakistan’s National Commission for Minorities. He said: “They should accept that they are Infidels, then we will include them as a Minority, I have no objection to that. But if you challenge the concept of Khatm e Nabuwat while posing as a Muslim, …

Ahmadis excluded from Pakistan’s Minorities’ Commission

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday backtracked on his decision to include Ahmadis in the National Commission for Minorities. During a cabinet meeting with his top minister PM Khan approved a memo submitted by Ministry of Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony urging the cabinet to exclude Ahmadis due to the “religious and historical sensetivity of the issue.” The same cabinet on April 29th had ordered the Ministry of Religious Affairs to include the Ahmadis, saying that: “The Ahmadi community, …

Indian families stranded in Pakistan appeal for help

Two families from India who were visiting Pakistan are now stranded in Pakistan due to the closure of the Attari-Wagah border amid coronavirus fears. Mohammad Anwar, a resident of Qadian came to visit Pakistan along with his wife and daughter but got stranded in Chenab Nagar. Speaking to Punjab Gazette, he said: “I traveled to Pakistan via Wagah border on March 12 with my wife and daughter to meet my in-laws, But we got stuck here due to the border …

Hamza Abbasi says he was wrong to call Ahmadis ‘non-Muslim’

Former Pakistani actor Hamza Ali Abbasi said on Saturday that he was wrong in labeling Ahmadis as non-Muslims. He was backtracking from comments he made in 2016 declaring the minority Ahmadis a religion separate from Islam. Abbasi said on Twitter: “I was wrong in calling them non-Muslim. I can only say that they are wrong in their belief.” The actor was responding to a barrage of abusive tweets that were part of a Pakistan wide Twitter trend against Ahmadis. ” …

Pakistan to include Ahmadis in National Commission for Minorities

Pakistan on Wednesday announced the inclusion of minority Ahmadis in the National Commission for Minorities. According to 92 News, the federal cabinet on April 20 had approved plans by the Ministry of Religious Affairs to reorganize the commission. However, the proposal did not include a representative from the Ahmadi community. Subsequently, several Ministers raised the issue with PM Khan and suggested that Ahmadis be included in the commission. Accepting the suggestion by the Ministers PM Imran Khan on Wednesday directed …

Former ‘Harf e Raaz’ co-host lashes out at Orya Maqbool Jan

In a leaked call, former co-host of ‘Harf e Raaz’ lashed out against Orya Maqbool Jan for being a “hypocrite” and having an “illicit relationship” with the show’s producer. The damning claims were made by Jameel Farooqui in a phone call with Canada’s Rawal TV. Farooqui lamented that due to the nature of his job he was forced to share the screen with someone who had “extremist views”. He claimed: “When you are on screen, it’s not just one person …

Ahmadi man shot dead in Kharian

An elderly Ahmadi man was shot and killed at his home Sunday morning in an alleged armed robbery. According to reports, the incident took place at the residence of Malik Sadiq in Main Market, Chandni Chowk. Sadiq was shot dead as he tried to resist the robbers’ demands. A Police party led by DSP Kharian Asad Ishaq and SHO Mujahid Abbas reached the place of the incident, however by that time, the suspects had managed to escape.

Hindus beaten up in Sukkur for Drinking Water

Locals savagely beat up a group of Hindus they tried to collect drinking water. Six people including 3 women were severely injured after men from the Soomro clan used batons and sticks to beat up the lower caste Hindus for using the water pump to collect drinking water. The incident took place in Mubarakpur, Sukkur on April 25th. A case has been registered against the culprits by the local Police.

Pakistani man arrested for wanting to visit Israel

David Ariel (formerly Khalil-ur-Rehman), a Pakistani citizen who wanted to visit Israel on his Pakistani passport was arrested by security forces on Friday. For the past month, Ariel had been camping in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, in front of the National Press Club. With a Star of David affixed to his camp Ariel had been demanding that the Government of Pakistan allow him to visit Israel on his Pakistani passport. Under Pakistani law, Pakistani passports are not valid for travel …

Pakistan using ISI system to track coronavirus cases

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday revealed that the country was using an ISI system to trace and track patients of coronavirus. PM Khan made the revelation on live TV during the Ehsaas Telethon, He said: “It was originally meant to trace terrorists but we’re using it to tackle corona” Khan added that “tracking and testing is the only way to reopen businesses”. Funds collected during the live telethon will be used to combat the coronavirus pandemic across the country. …