---The News International - Internet Edition
Ahmadis expect more of the same
Saturday, May 29, 2010
By our correspondent
Karachi
Tremors of the deadly attack on the Ahmadi community in Lahore, which claimed more than 80 lives, are being felt in Karachi, with community members claiming that such attacks are nothing out of the ordinary since the government does not seem to care much about their plight.
“Despite being the most vulnerable sect in the country, Ahmadis get no security from the state, and our own volunteers oversee the security arrangements outside our places of worship,” a member of the community, on condition of anonymity, told The News.
He said that a violent attack aimed against the community is not a new phenomenon. “Last week, a son and a father from our community were gunned down in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. Many of our people have migrated to other countries for fear of being killed. Others who cannot afford to go overseas refuse to go outdoors. There is no protection for us.”
“No security had been provided by the government for our places of worship. I hope that after this dreadful incident, the government will wake up to the plight of our community,” he said.
On the other hand, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Waseem Ahmed assured that the safety and security of the places of worship of various minorities and religious sects will be ensured, and that all officials have been given orders in this regard.
When asked about operational details — including the number of cops to be deployed, or the number of police mobile vans to be stationed — the CCPO hesitated to reveal any details, and simply argued that security will be beefed up.
“After the Lahore attack on the Ahmadis’ place of worship, the police have been ordered to take necessary steps to protect sensitive worship places in the city,” Ahmed said, explaining that Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza would hold a detailed meeting on Saturday (today) with representatives of various law enforcement agencies in this regard.
Meanwhile, in the backdrop of the Lahore incident, a sermon was delivered to the community members by the London-based spiritual leader of the community, Mirza Masroor Ahmed, urging them to remain patient and to protect themselves amid such trying times.
URL: www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=241821
By our correspondent
Tremors of the deadly attack on the Ahmadi community in Lahore, which claimed more than 80 lives, are being felt in Karachi, with community members claiming that such attacks are nothing out of the ordinary since the government does not seem to care much about their plight.
“Despite being the most vulnerable sect in the country, Ahmadis get no security from the state, and our own volunteers oversee the security arrangements outside our places of worship,” a member of the community, on condition of anonymity, told The News.
He said that a violent attack aimed against the community is not a new phenomenon. “Last week, a son and a father from our community were gunned down in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. Many of our people have migrated to other countries for fear of being killed. Others who cannot afford to go overseas refuse to go outdoors. There is no protection for us.”
“No security had been provided by the government for our places of worship. I hope that after this dreadful incident, the government will wake up to the plight of our community,” he said.
On the other hand, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Waseem Ahmed assured that the safety and security of the places of worship of various minorities and religious sects will be ensured, and that all officials have been given orders in this regard.
When asked about operational details — including the number of cops to be deployed, or the number of police mobile vans to be stationed — the CCPO hesitated to reveal any details, and simply argued that security will be beefed up.
“After the Lahore attack on the Ahmadis’ place of worship, the police have been ordered to take necessary steps to protect sensitive worship places in the city,” Ahmed said, explaining that Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza would hold a detailed meeting on Saturday (today) with representatives of various law enforcement agencies in this regard.
Meanwhile, in the backdrop of the Lahore incident, a sermon was delivered to the community members by the London-based spiritual leader of the community, Mirza Masroor Ahmed, urging them to remain patient and to protect themselves amid such trying times.
URL: www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=241821
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