Another minority killing in Pakistan

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful
International Press and Media Desk
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat International
22 Deer Park, London, SW19 3TL
Tel / Fax (44) 020 8544 7613 Mobile (44) 077954 90682
Email: press@ahmadiyya.org.uk
Web: Alislam.org

LONDON, 8 August 2009

PRESS RELEASE

ANOTHER MINORITY KILLING IN PAKISTAN

It is with great sadness that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat confirms that another member of its community, Rana Ata-ul Karim (36) was killed on 6 August 2009 in Multan, Pakistan. He was murdered simply for being an Ahmadi. Mr Karim, a well educated agriculturist, left his home for a few minutes in the afternoon and returned to find that his wife had been locked in their bedroom by three young men who had entered his home. Mr Karim was shot 3 times and died on the spot. The assailants immediately fled the scene. Mr Karim is survived by his wife and two daughters.

The killing came in a week where another minority group in Pakistan, members of the Christian community, have also faced persecution. Speaking about the current situation in Pakistan, the world Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“The situation in Pakistan is extremely grave. So called Muslims continue to tarnish the name of Islam. Recently extremists in Pakistan have inflicted horrific cruelties on the Christian minority. The country is plagued with a lack of law and order, even though the authorities try to claim the contrary. In practice, where it comes to upholding the rights of a vulnerable citizen or group, all law and order is forgotten.”

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat condemns in the strongest terms the persecution faced by the Christian minority in recent days. What has happened there and also the continued persecution of Ahmadis is completely alien to the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the Holy Prophet Muhammad. The Holy Qur’an clearly states that ‘there should be no compulsion in religion’ but unfortunately this is an injunction that has been forgotten by parts of the Muslim world. This is the reason why Ahmadis such as Rana Ata-ul Karim are martyred on a regular basis in Pakistan and why the Government continues to uphold anti-Ahmadiyya legislation passed in 1974 and 1984.

For Pakistan to emerge from this period of self-destruction it must be governed with honesty and integrity. Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“In Pakistan the politicians are fearful of the power of the extremist clerics. Because of this no example of justice can be seen in the country.”

End of Release

Further Info: Abid Khan, Tel: +44(0)7795490682, Email: press at ahmadiyya.org.uk