Chenab Nagar, 10 March 2025 – The rise of radicalism in Pakistan has once again manifested in a violent attack against the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. In a disturbing incident in the Bahawalnagar district, under pressure from extremist elements of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), police demolished the minarets of the Ahmadiyya place of worship, Bait-ul-Dhikr, using heavy machinery. This act of religious oppression is yet another example of the deteriorating state of minority rights in Pakistan.
According to reports, anti-Ahmadiyya groups had been agitating for the demolition of the minarets for some time. The situation escalated on March 8, when two opposing groups argued over an unrelated issue. During the altercation, a man named Amjad reportedly fell ill and died on the way to the hospital. At the time, no Ahmadi was present at the scene, yet TLP extremists falsely accused the Ahmadiyya community of being responsible for his death.
Using this death as a pretext, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan initiated protests in Dahranwala, mobilizing anger through social media. The extremists incited the public by spreading baseless claims and demanded the demolition of the Ahmadiyya Bait-ul-Dhikr and the registration of a murder case against members of the community. In an alarming show of mob rule, demonstrators burned tires and caused unrest. Instead of upholding justice, the police capitulated to the extremists’ demands, registering a case under sections 302, 109, 148, and 149 against two Ahmadis and seven other individuals.
In a shocking turn of events, before the burial of the deceased, the authorities proceeded with the demolition of the minarets under the cover of darkness. The attack on the Ahmadiyya community did not stop there—during the operation, the homes of Ahmadis were broken into and looted, further exacerbating the climate of fear and persecution.
Ahmadiyya Jamaat Pakistan spokesperson Aamir Mahmood strongly condemned the incident, calling it an outrageous violation of religious freedom. “Regrettably, the authorities have chosen to appease a radical group by illegally demolishing the minarets of an Ahmadiyya mosque,” he stated. “Evil elements are intensifying their actions against Ahmadis in Pakistan under the guise of religious sentiment, and the administration is failing to protect a vulnerable community.”
This latest act of targeted violence underscores the growing influence of extremist forces in Pakistan. The persecution of the Ahmadiyya community has been on the rise, with radical groups using religious rhetoric to justify unlawful actions. The complicity of law enforcement in such incidents only emboldens extremists and erodes any semblance of justice.
The spokesperson has demanded an impartial investigation and strict legal action against those responsible. However, given Pakistan’s long-standing history of systemic discrimination against Ahmadis, the likelihood of justice being served remains bleak.
The international community must take notice of these escalating atrocities. Pakistan’s failure to curb extremism and protect its minorities will only deepen societal divisions and invite global scrutiny. The world must demand accountability and pressure the Pakistani government to uphold fundamental human rights and religious freedom before the situation further deteriorates.