As Eid al-Adha approaches, Pakistan has taken a harsh stance against the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, especially in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh. Local authorities have announced that any Ahmadi caught performing the ritual animal sacrifice—qurbani—could face a heavy fine of 500,000 Pakistani rupees (around ₹2.5 lakh). Even doing so within their own homes is being treated as a punishable offense.
Reports suggest that police have detained Ahmadi individuals, forced them to sign written pledges not to take part in Eid rituals, and in some cases, entered their homes without warrants. These actions reflect a wider pattern of religious discrimination that Ahmadis have faced in Pakistan for decades.
Who Are the Ahmadis?
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was founded in 1889 by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, a religious reformer in British India. He claimed to be the Promised Messiah and Mahdi—figures many Muslims believe will come to restore justice and faith. Ahmadis consider themselves Muslims and follow Islamic teachings, but their belief that Ahmad came after Prophet Muhammad has made them the target of religious and political opposition.
Despite this, Ahmadis have made significant contributions to society. For example, Dr. Nusrat Jahan, an Ahmadi gynecologist, provided free maternal care to thousands of women in Rabwah, a city heavily populated by the community, often at great personal risk.
Why Pakistan Doesn’t Recognize Ahmadis as Muslims
The core issue lies in a theological difference. Most Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad is the final prophet (Khatm-e-Nabuwwat). Because Ahmadis believe that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was a prophet-like figure, many religious scholars—and eventually the state—viewed this as heretical.
In 1974, Pakistan officially amended its constitution to declare Ahmadis non-Muslims. A decade later, in 1984, a law known as Ordinance XX made it a crime for Ahmadis to:
Call themselves Muslims
Refer to their places of worship as mosques
Use Islamic greetings or terms
These laws effectively criminalized the practice of their faith in public—and in some cases, even in private.
A History of Persecution
Ahmadis in Pakistan have long faced violence, discrimination, and legal restrictions. Here are some key incidents:
1953: Riots in Lahore led to the deaths of hundreds of Ahmadis after religious groups demanded they be declared non-Muslims.
2010: Twin attacks on Ahmadi mosques in Lahore killed 87 people and injured over 120 during Friday prayers.
Recent years:
In April 2025, an Ahmadi man, Laeeq Cheema, was beaten to death by a mob in Karachi.
In May 2025, Dr. Sheikh Mahmood, an Ahmadi doctor, was shot and killed at his clinic in Sargodha.
Despite these attacks, arrests are rare and justice is seldom served.
The Bigger Picture
The crackdown on Ahmadis during Eid isn’t just about religious rituals—it’s part of a larger issue of systematic exclusion. In a country founded with promises of religious freedom, the Ahmadiyya community continues to be denied the right to worship, speak, or identify as Muslims.
While human rights groups have raised concerns and called on Pakistan to protect minority rights, the situation remains deeply troubling. For many Ahmadis, even celebrating a religious festival in peace has become a distant hope.
