Two Arrested for Alleged Murder of Ahmadi Man in Punjab’s Kasur; Community Alerts Rising Religious Violence
Subheadline:
Police Cite Personal Enmity, but Ahmadiyya Spokesperson Points to Sustained Extremist Harassment
Kasur, Punjab – Police in Punjab’s Kasur district arrested two suspects on Friday for the alleged murder of a 19-year-old Ahmadi man, Muhammad Asif, and the injury of another in a targeted attack. The incident has reignited concerns over escalating violence against Pakistan’s Ahmadiyya community and the role of extremist groups in fanning religious intolerance.
Incident Details
The attack occurred in Bhalir, Kasur, where five armed assailants opened fire on Asif and his cousin. Asif succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital, while his cousin was critically wounded and transferred to Lahore for treatment. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered under Sections 148 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), and 302 (murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Kasur District Police Officer (DPO) Essa Khan confirmed two arrests and stated raids were underway to apprehend the remaining suspects. He claimed the motive was “personal enmity,” adding that one detained suspect had ties to the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and previously exploited religious sentiments in a 2022 dispute.
Ahmadiyya Community’s Alarming Claims
Aamir Mahmood, spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya community, disputed the police’s personal enmity narrative, alleging a two-year campaign of harassment targeting Ahmadis in Bhalir. Key grievances include:
- Repeated demands to dismantle the local Ahmadiyya place of worship.
- Prior shooting incidents damaging homes near the worship site.
- Systematic intimidation by extremist groups, emboldened by impunity.
Mahmood urged authorities to “protect Ahmadis as per the law” and prosecute those inciting hate campaigns.
Broader Context: Rising Violence Against Minorities
This attack follows a pattern of faith-based violence in Pakistan:
- April 2024: A 46-year-old Ahmadi businessman was lynched in Karachi after TLP supporters stormed an Ahmadi worship site.
- 2023–24: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) documented four faith-based killings, three targeting Ahmadis, and over 750 individuals jailed on blasphemy charges.
Human Rights Warnings
In its report Under Siege: Freedom of Religion or Belief in 2023–24, the HRCP highlighted a surge in mob-led attacks on minorities’ homes and worship places, stressing the state’s failure to curb extremism. Activists warn that blasphemy accusations and TLP’s radical rhetoric continue to endanger vulnerable communities.
Official Response and Demands
While DPO Khan assured a “thorough investigation,” rights groups and the Ahmadiyya community demand:
- Transparent probes into attacks, rejecting “personal enmity” as a blanket excuse.
- Legal action against groups inciting hate speech and violence.
- Enhanced security for Ahmadi worship sites and minority neighborhoods.
