Once again, Pakistan has demonstrated its blatant disregard for human rights and religious freedom. The recent arrest of 22 Ahmadis in Daska, District Sialkot, at the hands of a fanatical mob-backed police force is yet another harrowing chapter in the state-sponsored persecution of this oppressed community. Pakistan’s authorities, instead of upholding justice, continue to embolden religious extremists, making a mockery of the country’s constitution and international human rights laws.
On that fateful day, a mob gathered outside an Ahmadiyya place of worship, spewing venom and chanting provocative slogans. The Ahmadis, fearing for their safety, sought police protection. But rather than defending the victims, the authorities shamelessly arrested 23 Ahmadis, including two innocent children—an 11-year-old and a 14-year-old. The very institutions meant to uphold justice crumbled under the pressure of a radicalized mob, filing trumped-up charges against these peaceful worshippers. Later, 22 of them were sent to jail on judicial remand, while only the youngest child was released. Is this the justice Pakistan claims to uphold?
This despicable act is not an isolated incident. In Bhagtanwala, District Sargodha, the police lodged another case against 23 Ahmadis for merely gathering to pray. What kind of nation criminalizes its citizens for practicing their faith? Meanwhile, the horrors continue—Bushra Abid, an innocent Ahmadi woman, was arrested in Gujranwala on baseless allegations. The oppression did not stop there; in a shameful act of religious apartheid, the police in Gujranwala desecrated a 120-year-old Ahmadi place of worship, grinding down its minaret. And when questioned about this barbarism? The authorities responded with more injustice—arresting five Ahmadis and four locals, only to release them hours later.
How long will Pakistan continue this assault on religious minorities? How long will the authorities cave to extremist mobs, sacrificing justice and human decency at the altar of radicalism? The spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya community, Mr. Amir Mahmood, has unequivocally condemned this surge in hostility, pointing out that even worshipping privately is no longer safe. His cries, however, seem to fall on deaf ears as Pakistan trudges forward in its systematic persecution.
The numbers speak for themselves: in 2025 alone, the graves of 91 Ahmadis have been desecrated. Police officials—who should be protecting the innocent—are instead demolishing places of worship, tearing down minarets, and arresting Ahmadis without cause. This is not just an attack on a single community; this is an assault on basic human dignity. Pakistan’s actions violate Article 18 of the International Charter of Human Rights and Article 20 of its constitution, both of which guarantee religious freedom. Yet, these laws remain nothing more than hollow promises, ignored by the very nation that authored them.
It is high time that the world takes notice of Pakistan’s hypocrisy. While its leaders preach about religious harmony on global platforms, the reality at home tells a different story—one of oppression, violence, and institutionalized bigotry. The international community must hold Pakistan accountable for its crimes against the Ahmadis. Silence only enables the perpetrators.
If Pakistan wants to salvage its crumbling global image, it must act decisively—condemn religious extremism, protect the fundamental rights of all its citizens, and dismantle the oppressive structures that allow such persecution to fester. Until then, Pakistan will remain a nation shackled by its intolerance, a land where justice is held hostage by fanatics, and where innocent lives continue to suffer under the weight of state-sanctioned bigotry.