Asia

Pulitzer Center’s student fellows share their experience of reporting on Pakistan’s Ahmadis

On October 27, Pulitzer Center’s three student fellows presented their reporting project on Pakistan’s Ahmadis as part of the annual fellows weekend in Washington, D.C. The trio who are currently enrolled at the Northwestern University in Qatar were selected by the acclaimed Pulitzer Center as student fellows back in May. Ayilah Chaudhary, Isabella Palma-Lopez, and Amna Al-Baker shared their experiences of traveling to Pakistan, and revealed the challenges they had to face in order to report on the human rights …

Nobel Prize-Winning Economists criticize ‘forced resignation’ of Atif Mian

Pakistan’s decision to let go of a top economist for his religious beliefs has been heavily criticized by world’s top economists. On September 11, Professor Dani Rodrisk of the Harvard Kennedy School and Professor Timur Kuran of Duke University published a statement criticizing Pakistan’s removal of Atif Mian from the EAC. The statement has garnered the attention of world economists and has been endorsed by 93 economists which include 8 Nobel laureates. Nobel winners who signed the statement include Peter …

Mob attacks Ahmadi Mosque in Faisalabad

A Pakistani mob attacked an Ahmadi Mosque in Ghaseet Pura, Faisalabad on Thursday evening, during the clash two Ahmadis were injured. According to the Police report the mob attack occurred around 7PM Thursday evening, allegedly due to a dispute between Ahmadi & Sunni teenagers over a cockfight. Police claimed that the dispute escalated when some individuals opened fire, six people including two Ahmadis were injured as a result. The mob then went down to the local Ahmadi Mosque and started …

Pakistan to open border for Sikh celebrations

Pakistan will allow visa free access to Sikh pilgrims during next year’s Guru Nanak Gurpurab, the claim was made by Indian politician Navjot Singh Sidhu who is currently visiting Pakistan. Sidhu made the claim while speaking to reporters after the swearing-in ceremony of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. Sidhu said that he met the Pakistani Army Chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the swearing-in ceremony and during his brief meeting, the Military Chief told him of Pakistan Army’s plans to …

British MP Sir Edward Davey challenges Imran Khan

 British MP and former cabinet minister Sir Ed Davey has challenged Pakistan’s newly elected Prime Minister Imran Khan to reform the country’s discriminatory law against religious minorities. He made the remarks while speaking at Jalsa Salana, the annual Ahmadiyya convention in UK. Speaking at the convention, Sir Edward said: “My final message is a challenge to the new prime minister of Pakistan….Prime Minister Imran Khan. You now have huge responsibilities, you now have a chance to reduce and end …

In Pakistan’s elections, minorities face daunting challenge

As Pakistan heads into parliamentary elections this week, the country’s minorities are looking for better representation and a voice that will speak up for them in what rights groups warn is in an increasingly intolerant atmosphere in this Muslim-majority nation. It’s an uphill struggle for Pakistani Christians, Sikhs, Ahmadis and others. Minority religions make up just 4 percent of Pakistan’s 200 million people; Shiites account for about 15 to 20 percent of the Muslim population. The country’s complicated electoral system …

Pakistan’s Royal Rajputs, the Hindu rulers of Amarkot Estate

With a saffron turban on his head and Tika on his forehead Rana Hamir Singh is of the last remaining Hindu rulers of Sindh. He was crowned ‘Rana Saheb’ in 2009 after the passing of his father Rana Chandra Singh. The Rana’s ruled what was once the kingdom of Amarkot. However all is not lost, 61-year-old Rana Hamir Singh still oversees the vast Umerkot Estate which is spread over 22000 sq k.m. in Pakistan’s southern province of Sindh. The jagir …

Reham Khan questions PTI’s use of religion

Imran Khan’s alleged ‘Sajda’ and his consequent defense of religion being a private matter has prompted questions from many including his ex-wife Reham Khan. Reham claimed that if according to Khan and his supporters religion was a private matter then why have they frequently used religion to advance their political goals. In a tweet Reham said: If you think religion is a personal thing then why do you use footage of praying pilgrimage & Islamic references in speeches? Why did …

5 times when PTI didn’t consider religion a personal matter

A video went viral on Thursday showing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan visiting the shrine of Baba Fariduddin GanjShakar in Pakpattan where he stopped just outside the shrine and bowed before the grave of the 13th century Sufi saint. The social media went wild with immediate takfeers and counter-takfeers as Imran’s opponents believed the gesture to be a Sajda before the grave, which is haram according to orthodox Islam, while the PTI supporters sprang to the defence of their …

Pakistan legislators refuse resolution condemning mob attack on Ahmadi Mosque

On Friday Pakistan’s provincial assembly of Sindh refused submission of a resolution denouncing the mob attack on a historic Ahmadiyya Mosque. The resolution was tabled by Irum Azeem Farooque, an Independent member of the provincial legislature. Farooque claimed that no political party wanted to sign the resolution which called on the House to “Strongly condemn the attack on the Ahmadi prayer place”. In a tweet she said: Where are we heading? I wasn’t allowed to submit my condemnation Resolution in …

Pakistani mob attack against Ahmadi Mosque prompts global condemnation

Widespread condemnation followed the mob attack against an Ahmadiyya Mosque in the Pakistani city of Sialkot. U.S. joined lawmakers from Canada and UK to condemn the attack which resulted in the destruction of a historic 100-year-old Mosque. The attack which was led by Hafiz Hamid Raza, a member of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf happened between the night of May 23rd and early morning of the May 24th. During the attack, a mob of around 500 Muslims chanted slogans against the minority Ahmadiyya …

Pakistani mob destroys historic Mosque

A mob of Pakistani Muslims destroyed a historic Mosque in the early hours of Thursday. The Mosque which is located in the city of Sialkot was once attended by Pakistani poet and thinker Sir Allama Muhammad Iqbal. The attack started late Wednesday night after a mob of over 600 men gathered in the Kashmiri Mohalla and started chanting slogans against the minority Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, to which the Mosque belongs. The mob was led by Hafiz Hamid Raza, a member …