Lahore: Five Ahmedi citizens of Pakistan were shot and injured in two separate incidents of hate crime on Saturday.
In Jaranwala, an Ahmedi couple was shot and injured by two identified gunmen who broke into the house in Abu Zar Colony.
In his complaint to the police, Ziaudin, 41, a gold jeweler, said that he was home with his wife and son when two assailants broke in while a third man stood guard at the main door. He said his wife suffered a bullet injury in her thigh as the attackers opened fire.
In another incident reported from Karachi’s Korangi Industrial Area late night on Saturday, robbers entered the office of Zafarulah, 25. Zafarullah, with the help of Nasrullah, 20, and Mubeen Ahmed, 20, overpowered one of the robbers, while the other accomplice opened fire. All three men were injured in the attack. They were shifted to a hospital where there condition was stated to be critical.
Talking to Daily Times, Jamat-e-Ahmadia spokesperson Saleemudin said there had been four major incidents of attacks against Ahmadis after Islamabad High Court’s March 8 judgement against Ahmadis. On March 24, a historic place of worship of the community was attacked and demolished in Sialkot. Then on June 27, an Ahmadi was shot and killed in Nishtar Colony area of Lahore. The deceased left behind three differently abled children. He demanded authorities concerned to ensure security of the persecuted minority community. “Being Pakistani citizens, protection to lives and businesses is our basic rights,” he said.
Published in Daily Times, July 9th 2018.