Pakistan Arrests 23 Ahmadis for Offering Friday Prayers in Punjab’s Daska

Lahore, March 1: Pakistani authorities arrested 23 members of the minority Ahmadi community in Punjab province for conducting Friday prayers, a religious practice legally prohibited for them under Pakistani law. The incident occurred in Daska, Sialkot district, approximately 100 kilometers from Lahore.

According to police officer Muhammad Tanzeel, the local police station received a complaint alleging that 27 Ahmadis were gathered at their place of worship to perform Juma (Friday) prayers. The Ahmadis' prayer leader, Arshad Sahi, was reportedly delivering a sermon and reciting Islamic verses, which led to objections from local Muslims.

“Local Muslims' sentiments were hurt, leading police to register an FIR under section 298-C of the Pakistan Penal Code,” Officer Tanzeel stated.

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Section 298-C specifically criminalizes Ahmadis who identify themselves as Muslims or practice Islamic rituals publicly.

Ahmadis Face Increased Pressure from Radical Groups​

The Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan (JAP) strongly condemned the arrests, highlighting the increasingly hostile environment faced by the Ahmadi community. In an official statement, JAP spokesperson Aamir Mahmood described the events as part of a growing hate campaign targeting Ahmadis:

“A group of Ahmadis had gathered for worship within private premises in Daska as per routine. Shortly thereafter, religious extremists assembled outside, chanting provocative slogans.”

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Radical Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has reportedly been instrumental in driving police actions against the Ahmadis. JAP officials claim that although they had called police seeking protection from the extremists, officers instead detained the Ahmadis, including minors aged 11 and 14, transporting them to the City Police Station in Daska.

Judiciary Sends Arrested Ahmadis to Judicial Remand​

Following the arrests, extremists further gathered outside the police station, pressuring authorities to formally charge the detainees. Subsequently, police registered criminal cases against the 23 Ahmadis and presented them before a local magistrate. The court ordered their judicial remand, sending them to Sialkot Central Jail.

Mahmood criticized the state for consistently capitulating to extremist demands, saying:

“The persecution of Ahmadis has been ongoing for a long time, but the situation has now escalated to the extent that even worship within private premises is being denied.”

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Historical Context of Ahmadi Persecution in Pakistan​

Despite considering themselves Muslims, Ahmadis have faced severe restrictions since Pakistan's parliament declared them non-Muslims in 1974. Further stringent laws enacted in 1984 prevent Ahmadis from publicly identifying as Muslims or practicing aspects of Islam openly. These include prohibitions on constructing Islamic architectural symbols, such as minarets or domes, or displaying Quranic verses in public.

However, the Lahore High Court previously ruled that Ahmadi places of worship built before the 1984 ordinance are protected by law and cannot be altered or demolished.

This latest incident highlights ongoing challenges and growing religious intolerance faced by Pakistan’s Ahmadi community.