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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 …

CAIR Denies Condemning Anti-Semitism

Part of how lawful Islamist groups are so insidious is that they are perfectly willing to pretend to respectability by mouthing the correct pieties of our tolerant society, but are quick to jettison their professed tolerance when it suits them – to the detriment of moderate Muslims everywhere. In the past few days, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) gave us a clinic in how it is done. CAIR’s frequent ally, American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), has a recurring problem with anti-Semitism. …

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 …

Indonesian mob attacks ‘heretical’ Ahmadiyah in East Lombok

An enraged Indonesian mob attacked and destroyed the houses of the ‘heretical’ Ahmadiyya community on Saturday afternoon. The mob sought to expel the Ahmadis from Greneng Village, in East Lombok regency of Indonesia. The mob attacked did not result in any deaths, however, houses and motorcycles belonging to the Ahmadi families were destroyed, Seven families comprising of 24 individuals were forced to seek shelter at the East Lombok Police headquarters. Those affected by the attacks claim that at least one …

Oxford University’s Pakistani society refuses to screen film on Dr. Abdus Salam

Oxford University Pakistan Society has come under fire for allegedly refusing to screen a documentary on Dr. Abdus Salam, a renowned scientist who became the first Pakistani to win a Nobel prize. In a statement, organizer Noman Chaudhry claimed that: I contacted Pakistani Society two months ago about the screening. I had numerous chats with the committee members including the President at various events. I was told that they were still discussing the matter and that they had other events …

Bilawal Bhutto deletes tweet endorsing Ahmadi rights

Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto deleted a tweet on Tuesday in which he had endorsed equal rights for the country’s minority Ahmadis. Bhutto posted the original tweet back in 2013 in response to the arrest of an Ahmadi man for reading the Quran. “No greater crime vs. Islam than banning someone from reading Quran, @ijattala: Bail denied to 2 Ahmadi caught reading Quran” The tweet once again caught the attention of rights activists after a renewed campaign …