Pakistan and its treatment of Ahmediyya Muslim Community:
Source: http://www.repealnow.net/
Religious minorities in Pakistan are suffering greatly under oppressive laws that were enacted starting in the early 1970s. In particular, the Government of Pakistan targeted the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community for persecution by denying them the right to vote, declaring them "non-Muslim", criminalizing their acts of worship, and a host of other official actions. Thousands of people from various religious groups have been harrassed, assaulted and even murdered simply for their faith.
Repeal Now is a campaign to end the religious discrimination that is enshrined in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, as well as in its legal, judicial and penal systems.
By enabling extremists to persecute religious minorities, Pakistan strengthens support for terrorism, the first victims of which are Paksitanis themselves. Christians, Shi'a, Baha'i, Hindus and Ahmadis are all victims of religious discrimination by the State as well as persecution from extremist groups. Ahmadi Muslims are the worst victims of all, as the links below show.
By enabling extremists to persecute religious minorities, Pakistan strengthens support for terrorism, the first victims of which are Paksitanis themselves. Christians, Shi'a, Baha'i, Hindus and Ahmadis are all victims of religious discrimination by the State as well as persecution from extremist groups. Ahmadi Muslims are the worst victims of all, as the links below show.
Repeal Now seeks to draw attention to the plight of Ahmadi Muslims, in an effort to build public support for repeal of the anti-Ahmadi and blasphemy laws in Pakistan. Only by returning to the vision of Pakistan's Founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, of a secular Pakistan that provides full freedom of religion, can Pakistan end the current violence and destruction that is running rampant across its lands.
Who are Ahmadi Muslims?
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (AMC), founded in 1889, spans over 195 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions. Ahmadi Muslims believe that the long-awaited Messiah has come in the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908).
The AMC continues to be an advocate for universal human rights and protections for religious and other minorities. It champions the empowerment and education of women. Its members are among the most law-abiding, educated, and engaged Muslims in the world.
The AMC continues to be an advocate for universal human rights and protections for religious and other minorities. It champions the empowerment and education of women. Its members are among the most law-abiding, educated, and engaged Muslims in the world.
The AMC exerts a positive influence wherever it is established. Ahmadi Muslims run 500 schools in the developing world, providing quality education for Ahmadis non-Ahmadis alike. Despite being a self-funded non-profit organization, the AMC has also established 30 hospitals and clinics in Asia and Africa, providing the poor with medical services.
In 1990, Ahmad’s fourth successor founded Humanity First, a non-religious disaster relief and development charitable organization, which operates in more than 30 countries of the world, run by Ahmadi Muslim volunteers.
In 1990, Ahmad’s fourth successor founded Humanity First, a non-religious disaster relief and development charitable organization, which operates in more than 30 countries of the world, run by Ahmadi Muslim volunteers.
Anti-Ahmadi Laws:
Ahmadi Muslims are the victims of state-sanctioned persecution in Pakistan. Religious extremists are emboldened by the following laws, judicial decision, codes and procedures targeting Ahmadi Muslims - all of which violate basic constitutional freedoms and international law, and justify the killing of innocent Ahmadi Muslims, like those who died in the Lahore Massacre.
Note: These are only the major laws and decisions; there are scores of lesser government actions, orders, and decisions aimed at persecuting Ahmadi Muslims.
Second Amendment to the 1973 Constitution - Passed in 1974, this amendment defined "Muslim" in the Pakistani context, and declared Ahmadi Muslims "non-Muslim" for the purposes of the Constitution. Read the text of the amendment here.
Ordinance XX - In 1984, Parliament passed five ordinances targeting religious minorities: a law punishing the defiling of the Qur'an; a prohibition against insulting the wives, family, or companions of the Prophet of Islam; and two laws specifically restricting the activities of Ahmadis, known as "Ordinance XX." These laws criminalized any Islamic behavior by Ahmadi Muslims, including basic worship.
Mujibur Rahman v. Government of Pakistan - The Federal Shariat Court upholds constitutionality of Ordinance XX, solidifying the changes and empowering officials and extremists alike to take action against Ahmadi Muslims.
Criminal Law Act of 1986 - Known widely as the "Blasphemy Law," the Act amended Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code by raising the penalty against blasphemy from fine or imprisonment to death. In an essay for the Harvard Human Rights Journal, Amjad Mahmood Khan explains, "Zia-ul-Haq and the Pakistani government institutionalized the persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan with Section 295-C. The mere existence of practicing Ahmadi Muslims could be considered blasphemous and punishable by death."
Zaheeruddin v. State - In 1999, the Supreme Court of Pakistan dismissed eight appeals by Ahmadis arrested under Section 295-C of the PPP, upholding the constitutionality of all legal and penal measures in place against Ahmadi Muslims.
Chief Executive Order No. 15 - In early 2002, then President Pervez Musharraf abolished the hitherto separate electorates for Muslims and for non-Muslims, creating one joint electorate (via Exec. Order No. 7). Months later, however, under pressure from extremist clerics, Musharraf signed the Conduct of General Elections Order of 2002, which, through Exec. Order No. 7, exempted Ahmadi Muslims from the joint electorate. Ahmadi Muslims cannot, on account of their faith, register to vote as "non-Muslims," and are thus excluded from participating in their country's elections.
Pakistani Passport - The Government passed an act amending the Pakistani passport to include a declaration of a person's religion. In order to declare oneself Muslim, every applicant must attest to the following:
a. I am a Muslim and believe in the absolute and unqualified finality of the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him) the last of the prophets.
b. I do not recognize any person who claims to he prophet in any sense of the word or of any description whatsoever after Muhammad (peace be upon him) or recognize such a claimant as prophet or a religious reformer as a Muslim.
c. I consider Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Quadiani to be an impostor nabi and also consider his followers whether belonging to the Lahori or Quadiani group, to be NON-MUSLIM.
State Sanctioned Persecution:
Government involvement in the persecution does not end with the enactment of laws - that is just the beginning. Ahmadi Muslims are the only religious community that has no form of representation in the Government. The anti-Ahmadi Muslim laws give provincial and local government officials license to harrass, imprison, torture and prosecute Ahmadis at will. Government authorities protect hatemongers.
Voting Rights - Ahmadi Muslims are the only group of people in Pakistan who must first denounce their own religious beliefs in order to vote in government elections. In 2002, then President Pervez Musharraf created a joint electorate for Muslims and non-Muslims (ending the bigoted separate electorate established in 1978 by Zia-ul Haq). The same year, however, he ruled that Ahmadi Muslims were to remain outside the joint electorate. Therefore, in order to vote, Ahmadi Muslims must either denounce Islam and vote as "non-Muslims," or denounce their community's founder and vote as "Muslims." The result is that all religious groups in Pakistan except the Ahmadi Muslims get to vote are represented in Paksitan's Parliament. See "The Impossible Choice."
Provincial Government Action - Officials from provincial governments have joined in the harrassment and persecution of Ahmadis in a number of ways. In 1999, for example, the Punjab Provincial Assembly, with the backing of the Federal Shariat Court, unilaterally decided to change the name of the Ahmadi-founded and 98% Ahmadi-populated village of Rabwah (an Arabic word meaning “higher ground,” used reverentially in the Qur'an) to Chenab Nagar (an Urdu phrase used pejoratively in Pakistan meaning “Chenab river village”) and infiltrated its housing projects with non-Ahmadi settlements in an effort to transform permanently the composition of the village itself. A decade earlier, in 1989, the District Magistrate of Jhang banned the community from celebrating its 100-year anniversary with Order No. 1905/GB. Such examples of state action are prevalent.
Protecting Prohibited Speech by Extremists - Pakistani law prohibits speech that incites violence, yet the Government allows anti-Ahmadi hatemongers to regularly conduct public assemblies near Ahmadi Muslim areas in which they declare Ahmadi Muslims "waajib-ul qatl," or obligatory to kill. On numerous occasions, police has even escorted hate mobs on parade routes. Hate speech has even reaced the mainstream media in Pakistan. On GeoTV, noted television personality Amir Liaqat called Ahmadis "waajib-ul qatl," and the following day two innocent Ahmadi Muslims were murdered in cold blood. No action has ever been taken against anyone.
1. Officer of the Excellent Order of the British Empire
2. Consul General of Tuvalu Island in the United Kingdom
3. Senator World Nations Congress
4. Ambassador of Peace appointed Universal Peace Foundation
5. Recipient of International Peace Prize
6. Member UN Human Rights Council Committee in the Rights of Minorities – Rights of Woman / Rights of Children
7. Member World Poverty Alleviation Forum
8. Honored as the 2010 Man of the Year in Human Rights.
9. An eminent member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam.
The Ahmadiyya Muslims are now a well recognised and a well respected community in the world. They are known to be law abiding, peace loving and completely non violent. Their teachings prohibit protests, demonstrations, industrial strikes and agitations. They have shown great dignity in enduring the pangs of persecution in Pakistan and elsewhere. Just end of May over a hundred of their members while offering the weekly Friday prayers in the two mosques in Lahore, Pakistan, were barbarically massacred but they have sustained this catastrophic tragedy in silence. They are also unique being a community of over 200 million people representing all races, nations, cultures and languages heralding from over 190 countries of the world but solemnly united under one spiritual leader divinely designated as ‘Khalifa’. The community was founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, India, who claimed to be the Promised Messiah.
The present khalifa, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the fifth Successor of the founder of the community, was compelled to reside in London, U.K. because of the legislation passed by the Government of Pakistan prohibiting Ahmadis to practice as Muslims in Pakistan.
In this brief article it is my intention to review the services of the Ahmadiyya community to humanity in general and to Pakistan in particular.
The founder of the community, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, clearly stated the importance of good relationships with fellow human beings. He said:
“I admonish you to adhere to two primary principles- Keep your affairs with Allah on the straight path and treat the human beings with sympathy and good manners.” (Malfoozat, Volume 9, page 35)
The Ahmadi Muslims strongly supported and struggled for the creation of Pakistan and along with other Muslims migrated from Qadian, their headquarters in India. The editor of the Newspaper “Rangin,” Mr. Arjan Singh, writes in his book, Sair-i-Qadian:
“So far as our information goes we could say with confidence that the Ahmaddiya community is a strong supporter of the activities of the Muslim League. It is well known that they have besides contributing thousands of rupees, devoted their efforts for the success of the Muslim League.”
The Ahmadi Muslims were at the forefront of safeguarding the Muslim Political Rights during the Montague- Chelmsford Reforms of 1917, when the British Prime Minister Herbert Asquith had recognised the increasing demand for India’s self-rule. The then Imam of the Ahmaddiya Muslims, Mirza Bashirudeen Mahmood Ahmad, was invited by the Governor General of India, Lord Frederick, to address the special conference on the subject which was held in Delhi on 13th November 1917. Subsequently, the Ahmadiyya Community played a prominent role in the political developments leading on to the creation and formation of Pakistan.
An eminent Ahmadi leader, Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan, also played a key role in the politcal negotiations representing the Muslims of India at the Round Table Conference. Sir Zafrullah was the President of the All India Muslim League in 1931-1932. Khawaja Hasan Nizami of Delhi in the Urdu Newspaper ‘Munadi,’ writes in its 24th October 1934 issue about Sir Zafrullah:
“His political sagacity is greater than any Muslim in India. The Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for India, the Viceroy, and all British politicians admire his ability and Hindu leaders too, though reluctantly, acknowledge that this man is their rival- a very able, effective and accomplished rival. During the Round Table Conference, every Hindu, Muslim and Englishman acknowledged Chaudhry Zafrullah Khan’s merit and confessed that amongst the Muslims, Chaudhry Zafrullah is a person who has full command over the complexities of politics. Zafrullah is faultless and his character is irreproachable.”
History speaks for itself and there is no room in this brief exposure to go into detail. However, it is evident that from the very inception of the All India Muslim League in the Punjab in 1907, to the partition of the subcontinent in 1947- for forty long years- the Ahmadiyya community and its eminent members faithfully and persistently rendered crucial and outstanding services towards the freedom movement which culminated in the creation of Pakistan.
Sir Zafrullah Khan also had the distinguished honour of being the first Foreign Minister of Pakistan and in that capacity he eminently served the cause of the Muslims in Kashmir and Palestine. After the most disgusting legislation of 1974, when Bhutto declared Ahmadis to be non-Muslims and then the shameful Ordinance passed by General Zia ul Haq in 1984, the wife of the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan, had this to say as reported in the Daily Dawn, Karachi, July 10th 1985:
“During the past one year, Newspapers have reported murders of Ahmadi notables in mysterious circumstances. More recently, hundreds of arrests have been made of members of this peace loving Community. Those arrested have been reportedly subjected to physical torture, while the charge against them is usually that of wearing Kalima Tayabba badges. This situation deserves to be condemned forthrightly without any reservations. It is known history that while the Ahmadiyya Community supported the cause of Pakistan, most of Mullah Community, their present persecutors, opposed the creation of Pakistan tooth and nail. The two great Quaids, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan, appreciated the contribution of Ahmadis towards the Muslim cause and recognised it by appointing Chaudhry Muhammad Zafrullah Khan as the first Foreign Minister of Pakistan. In those great days, Pakistan had not been reduced to a theocratic State, and not only Muslims, regardless of the auxiliary beliefs, but even Hindus, were given Cabinet posts. The rights of minorities and small groups were not paid just lip service, but were protected with deliberate effort.” (Daily Dawn, Karachi, July 10th 1985)
Soon after the formation of Pakistan, the Ahmadiyya community raised a voluntary ‘Furqan Force Battalion’ for deployment on the Kashmir border.
The Battalion was placed at the disposal of the Commander in Chief of the Pakistan Army on 10th July 1948. Some of the Army Officers in this Ahmadi unit were Major Waqiuz-Zaman, Major Hamidullah and Capt. Nehmatullah Sharif. The entire cost of maintaining Furqan Force Battalion at the Kashmir front was borne by the Amadiyya community. The Furqan Force Battalion established a high reputation for discipline, courage, bravery and an eager spirit of service and sacrifice.
The Ahmadiyya community has always been at the forefront of services in the cause of the freedom of Muslims, particularly the Palestinian Arabs. This was acknowledged by the ‘Nawa-e-Waqt’ Magazine of 6th March 1982. It stated:“In their struggle to win their freedom, the Arab nations were fully represented by Zafrullah Khan at the International Forum of the UN General Assembly.”
Appreciating the Ahmadiyya community’s services to the Muslims of Tunisia, Morocco, Iran, Egypt and Jordan, the famous Egyptian leader Al Sayad Mustafa Momin stated in an interview to the Associated Press of Pakistan published in various Pakistani Newspapers of 24th and 25th March 1952: “Chaudhry Muhammad Zafrullah Khan holds an enviable position in the world of Islam. He is looked upon as a top most Statesman in the Middle East in general and in Egypt and other Arab countries in particular. By his forceful support of Tunisia, Morocco, Iran and Egypt at the United Nations, he has served the cause of Islam in a way no other leader has been able to do so.”
Of the many Ahmadis who have rendered selfless sacrifices to the nation of Pakistan, the eminent one is Dr. Abdus Salam who was a world renowned nuclear physicist. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Nuclear Physics. His significant contributions towards the development of scientific research in Nuclear Physics have been universally acknowledged.
Commending Dr Salam’s services, Mr. Ishrat Usmani once the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, said:
“Most of the scientific effort in Pakistan is in a large measure due to Salam’s imagination and the weight of his personality. Salam is a symbol of the pride and prestige of our nation in the world of science.”
General Ayub Khan appointed Dr. Salam as Chief Scientific Advisor to the President of Pakistan (1961-1974). Dr. Salam was also the founder and Chairman of the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Committee (1961-1964).
Dr. Abdus Salam served as a Scientific Secretary at the first Atoms for Peace Conference convened by the UN in Geneva, Switzerland. Later, he also served the cause of world science as the Director of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy.
In recognition of his unique services, in addition to the Nobel Prize, Dr. Salam was awarded several other prizes from 19 different nations.
It is very unfortunate for Pakistan that on account of submission to Islamic extremism, fanaticism, and Mullah hatred against Ahmadis, Pakistan, by passing legislation in 1974 declaring Ahmadis non-Muslims , lost the unique services to the country of its two distinguished sons, Sir Chaudhry Muhammad Zafrullah Khan and Dr. Abdus Salam.
The prejudice against Ahmadis was so strong, that even after the demise of Dr. Abdus Salam, the Government removed the word ‘Muslim’ engraved on his epitaph. What a disgrace and what a shame!
However, such acts of animosity and ruthless discrimination have never deterred Ahmadis from serving and sacrificing for Pakistan.
The Ahmadiyya community offered to the Pakistan Army 15000 soldiers and 199 Officers who were well trained in the battlefield during the Second World War. They offered unique sacrifices in the cause of the motherland. In this article, only a sampling of their valiant and splendid services can be mentioned.
Major Gen. Akhtar Hussain Malik’s extraordinary planning and speedy execution put the rival troops to flight in the Chamb Sector during the 1965 War with India. Brigadier Abdul Ali Malik stood like a rock in the path of the heaviest armoured advance of the elite Indian War machine.
Squadron Leader Khalifa Muniruddin Ahmad served in the Air Force with great distinction. Thousands of Ahmadi officers and ranks in the Armed Forces of Pakistan helped in the defence of the motherland. The names of Major Munir Ahmad and Major Qazi Bashir also stand out prominently. There are countless examples of the valour and the dauntless courage of many Ahmadi soldiers standing tall with their comrades in arms. Other Ahmadis whose loyalty and devotion were inspiration included Gen. Chaudhry Ahmad, Gen. Iftikhar Janjua and Air Marshall Nasir Zafar Chaudhry.
Today, the Ahmadiyya Muslims are doing all that they can to appease the suffering of humanity, to appease poverty, and provide health facilities, education, clean drinking water, alternative energy sources and training in skills leading to economic development in Africa, Asia, the Far East, the Pacific and other Regions of the world. They have established a special unit, Humanity First, to respond to all such needs and also to natural disasters and catastrophes. For the moral and spiritual education of the world they run a Satellite Television Station (MTA), which broadcasts in seven languages around the clock every single day.
Such is this community, with love for all and hatred for none, serving Islam and humanity devotedly with the determination to raise the banner of Islam and the dignity of humanity all over the world and do whatever it can for the welfare and wellbeing of all, without any discrimination whatsoever.
The Ahmadiyya Muslims have won respect and admiration from all sections of the world community for their loyalty and peace loving practices. They have a golden heart for humanity. They have a track record of people who are honest, hardworking, innovative, reliable, responsible, and with high morals. They are a treasure for the nation wherever they are, but unfortunately Pakistan has shelved this treasure of human resources on account of sheer, meaningless, damaging religious prejudice, extremism and hatred by passing deliberate legislation and ordinances against Ahmadis.
Alas! Pakistan would open its eyes at this very critical juncture in its history and get the Ahmadiyya Muslims on board to extinguish the rising flames of terrorism, corruption and devastating situation of law and order in the country.
State Sanctioned Persecution:
Government involvement in the persecution does not end with the enactment of laws - that is just the beginning. Ahmadi Muslims are the only religious community that has no form of representation in the Government. The anti-Ahmadi Muslim laws give provincial and local government officials license to harrass, imprison, torture and prosecute Ahmadis at will. Government authorities protect hatemongers.
Voting Rights - Ahmadi Muslims are the only group of people in Pakistan who must first denounce their own religious beliefs in order to vote in government elections. In 2002, then President Pervez Musharraf created a joint electorate for Muslims and non-Muslims (ending the bigoted separate electorate established in 1978 by Zia-ul Haq). The same year, however, he ruled that Ahmadi Muslims were to remain outside the joint electorate. Therefore, in order to vote, Ahmadi Muslims must either denounce Islam and vote as "non-Muslims," or denounce their community's founder and vote as "Muslims." The result is that all religious groups in Pakistan except the Ahmadi Muslims get to vote are represented in Paksitan's Parliament. See "The Impossible Choice."
Provincial Government Action - Officials from provincial governments have joined in the harrassment and persecution of Ahmadis in a number of ways. In 1999, for example, the Punjab Provincial Assembly, with the backing of the Federal Shariat Court, unilaterally decided to change the name of the Ahmadi-founded and 98% Ahmadi-populated village of Rabwah (an Arabic word meaning “higher ground,” used reverentially in the Qur'an) to Chenab Nagar (an Urdu phrase used pejoratively in Pakistan meaning “Chenab river village”) and infiltrated its housing projects with non-Ahmadi settlements in an effort to transform permanently the composition of the village itself. A decade earlier, in 1989, the District Magistrate of Jhang banned the community from celebrating its 100-year anniversary with Order No. 1905/GB. Such examples of state action are prevalent.
Protecting Prohibited Speech by Extremists - Pakistani law prohibits speech that incites violence, yet the Government allows anti-Ahmadi hatemongers to regularly conduct public assemblies near Ahmadi Muslim areas in which they declare Ahmadi Muslims "waajib-ul qatl," or obligatory to kill. On numerous occasions, police has even escorted hate mobs on parade routes. Hate speech has even reaced the mainstream media in Pakistan. On GeoTV, noted television personality Amir Liaqat called Ahmadis "waajib-ul qatl," and the following day two innocent Ahmadi Muslims were murdered in cold blood. No action has ever been taken against anyone.
The Ahmadiyya Position
The Ahmadiyya Position: Ahmedi teachings prohibit protests, demonstrations, industrial strikes and agitations--Dr. Ifthikhar Ahmad Ayaz, OBE1. Officer of the Excellent Order of the British Empire
2. Consul General of Tuvalu Island in the United Kingdom
3. Senator World Nations Congress
4. Ambassador of Peace appointed Universal Peace Foundation
5. Recipient of International Peace Prize
6. Member UN Human Rights Council Committee in the Rights of Minorities – Rights of Woman / Rights of Children
7. Member World Poverty Alleviation Forum
8. Honored as the 2010 Man of the Year in Human Rights.
9. An eminent member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam.
The Ahmadiyya Muslims are now a well recognised and a well respected community in the world. They are known to be law abiding, peace loving and completely non violent. Their teachings prohibit protests, demonstrations, industrial strikes and agitations. They have shown great dignity in enduring the pangs of persecution in Pakistan and elsewhere. Just end of May over a hundred of their members while offering the weekly Friday prayers in the two mosques in Lahore, Pakistan, were barbarically massacred but they have sustained this catastrophic tragedy in silence. They are also unique being a community of over 200 million people representing all races, nations, cultures and languages heralding from over 190 countries of the world but solemnly united under one spiritual leader divinely designated as ‘Khalifa’. The community was founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, India, who claimed to be the Promised Messiah.
The present khalifa, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the fifth Successor of the founder of the community, was compelled to reside in London, U.K. because of the legislation passed by the Government of Pakistan prohibiting Ahmadis to practice as Muslims in Pakistan.
In this brief article it is my intention to review the services of the Ahmadiyya community to humanity in general and to Pakistan in particular.
The founder of the community, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, clearly stated the importance of good relationships with fellow human beings. He said:
“I admonish you to adhere to two primary principles- Keep your affairs with Allah on the straight path and treat the human beings with sympathy and good manners.” (Malfoozat, Volume 9, page 35)
The Ahmadi Muslims strongly supported and struggled for the creation of Pakistan and along with other Muslims migrated from Qadian, their headquarters in India. The editor of the Newspaper “Rangin,” Mr. Arjan Singh, writes in his book, Sair-i-Qadian:
“So far as our information goes we could say with confidence that the Ahmaddiya community is a strong supporter of the activities of the Muslim League. It is well known that they have besides contributing thousands of rupees, devoted their efforts for the success of the Muslim League.”
The Ahmadi Muslims were at the forefront of safeguarding the Muslim Political Rights during the Montague- Chelmsford Reforms of 1917, when the British Prime Minister Herbert Asquith had recognised the increasing demand for India’s self-rule. The then Imam of the Ahmaddiya Muslims, Mirza Bashirudeen Mahmood Ahmad, was invited by the Governor General of India, Lord Frederick, to address the special conference on the subject which was held in Delhi on 13th November 1917. Subsequently, the Ahmadiyya Community played a prominent role in the political developments leading on to the creation and formation of Pakistan.
An eminent Ahmadi leader, Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan, also played a key role in the politcal negotiations representing the Muslims of India at the Round Table Conference. Sir Zafrullah was the President of the All India Muslim League in 1931-1932. Khawaja Hasan Nizami of Delhi in the Urdu Newspaper ‘Munadi,’ writes in its 24th October 1934 issue about Sir Zafrullah:
“His political sagacity is greater than any Muslim in India. The Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for India, the Viceroy, and all British politicians admire his ability and Hindu leaders too, though reluctantly, acknowledge that this man is their rival- a very able, effective and accomplished rival. During the Round Table Conference, every Hindu, Muslim and Englishman acknowledged Chaudhry Zafrullah Khan’s merit and confessed that amongst the Muslims, Chaudhry Zafrullah is a person who has full command over the complexities of politics. Zafrullah is faultless and his character is irreproachable.”
History speaks for itself and there is no room in this brief exposure to go into detail. However, it is evident that from the very inception of the All India Muslim League in the Punjab in 1907, to the partition of the subcontinent in 1947- for forty long years- the Ahmadiyya community and its eminent members faithfully and persistently rendered crucial and outstanding services towards the freedom movement which culminated in the creation of Pakistan.
Sir Zafrullah Khan also had the distinguished honour of being the first Foreign Minister of Pakistan and in that capacity he eminently served the cause of the Muslims in Kashmir and Palestine. After the most disgusting legislation of 1974, when Bhutto declared Ahmadis to be non-Muslims and then the shameful Ordinance passed by General Zia ul Haq in 1984, the wife of the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan, had this to say as reported in the Daily Dawn, Karachi, July 10th 1985:
“During the past one year, Newspapers have reported murders of Ahmadi notables in mysterious circumstances. More recently, hundreds of arrests have been made of members of this peace loving Community. Those arrested have been reportedly subjected to physical torture, while the charge against them is usually that of wearing Kalima Tayabba badges. This situation deserves to be condemned forthrightly without any reservations. It is known history that while the Ahmadiyya Community supported the cause of Pakistan, most of Mullah Community, their present persecutors, opposed the creation of Pakistan tooth and nail. The two great Quaids, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan, appreciated the contribution of Ahmadis towards the Muslim cause and recognised it by appointing Chaudhry Muhammad Zafrullah Khan as the first Foreign Minister of Pakistan. In those great days, Pakistan had not been reduced to a theocratic State, and not only Muslims, regardless of the auxiliary beliefs, but even Hindus, were given Cabinet posts. The rights of minorities and small groups were not paid just lip service, but were protected with deliberate effort.” (Daily Dawn, Karachi, July 10th 1985)
Soon after the formation of Pakistan, the Ahmadiyya community raised a voluntary ‘Furqan Force Battalion’ for deployment on the Kashmir border.
The Battalion was placed at the disposal of the Commander in Chief of the Pakistan Army on 10th July 1948. Some of the Army Officers in this Ahmadi unit were Major Waqiuz-Zaman, Major Hamidullah and Capt. Nehmatullah Sharif. The entire cost of maintaining Furqan Force Battalion at the Kashmir front was borne by the Amadiyya community. The Furqan Force Battalion established a high reputation for discipline, courage, bravery and an eager spirit of service and sacrifice.
The Ahmadiyya community has always been at the forefront of services in the cause of the freedom of Muslims, particularly the Palestinian Arabs. This was acknowledged by the ‘Nawa-e-Waqt’ Magazine of 6th March 1982. It stated:“In their struggle to win their freedom, the Arab nations were fully represented by Zafrullah Khan at the International Forum of the UN General Assembly.”
Appreciating the Ahmadiyya community’s services to the Muslims of Tunisia, Morocco, Iran, Egypt and Jordan, the famous Egyptian leader Al Sayad Mustafa Momin stated in an interview to the Associated Press of Pakistan published in various Pakistani Newspapers of 24th and 25th March 1952: “Chaudhry Muhammad Zafrullah Khan holds an enviable position in the world of Islam. He is looked upon as a top most Statesman in the Middle East in general and in Egypt and other Arab countries in particular. By his forceful support of Tunisia, Morocco, Iran and Egypt at the United Nations, he has served the cause of Islam in a way no other leader has been able to do so.”
Of the many Ahmadis who have rendered selfless sacrifices to the nation of Pakistan, the eminent one is Dr. Abdus Salam who was a world renowned nuclear physicist. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Nuclear Physics. His significant contributions towards the development of scientific research in Nuclear Physics have been universally acknowledged.
Commending Dr Salam’s services, Mr. Ishrat Usmani once the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, said:
“Most of the scientific effort in Pakistan is in a large measure due to Salam’s imagination and the weight of his personality. Salam is a symbol of the pride and prestige of our nation in the world of science.”
General Ayub Khan appointed Dr. Salam as Chief Scientific Advisor to the President of Pakistan (1961-1974). Dr. Salam was also the founder and Chairman of the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Committee (1961-1964).
Dr. Abdus Salam served as a Scientific Secretary at the first Atoms for Peace Conference convened by the UN in Geneva, Switzerland. Later, he also served the cause of world science as the Director of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy.
In recognition of his unique services, in addition to the Nobel Prize, Dr. Salam was awarded several other prizes from 19 different nations.
It is very unfortunate for Pakistan that on account of submission to Islamic extremism, fanaticism, and Mullah hatred against Ahmadis, Pakistan, by passing legislation in 1974 declaring Ahmadis non-Muslims , lost the unique services to the country of its two distinguished sons, Sir Chaudhry Muhammad Zafrullah Khan and Dr. Abdus Salam.
The prejudice against Ahmadis was so strong, that even after the demise of Dr. Abdus Salam, the Government removed the word ‘Muslim’ engraved on his epitaph. What a disgrace and what a shame!
However, such acts of animosity and ruthless discrimination have never deterred Ahmadis from serving and sacrificing for Pakistan.
The Ahmadiyya community offered to the Pakistan Army 15000 soldiers and 199 Officers who were well trained in the battlefield during the Second World War. They offered unique sacrifices in the cause of the motherland. In this article, only a sampling of their valiant and splendid services can be mentioned.
Major Gen. Akhtar Hussain Malik’s extraordinary planning and speedy execution put the rival troops to flight in the Chamb Sector during the 1965 War with India. Brigadier Abdul Ali Malik stood like a rock in the path of the heaviest armoured advance of the elite Indian War machine.
Squadron Leader Khalifa Muniruddin Ahmad served in the Air Force with great distinction. Thousands of Ahmadi officers and ranks in the Armed Forces of Pakistan helped in the defence of the motherland. The names of Major Munir Ahmad and Major Qazi Bashir also stand out prominently. There are countless examples of the valour and the dauntless courage of many Ahmadi soldiers standing tall with their comrades in arms. Other Ahmadis whose loyalty and devotion were inspiration included Gen. Chaudhry Ahmad, Gen. Iftikhar Janjua and Air Marshall Nasir Zafar Chaudhry.
Today, the Ahmadiyya Muslims are doing all that they can to appease the suffering of humanity, to appease poverty, and provide health facilities, education, clean drinking water, alternative energy sources and training in skills leading to economic development in Africa, Asia, the Far East, the Pacific and other Regions of the world. They have established a special unit, Humanity First, to respond to all such needs and also to natural disasters and catastrophes. For the moral and spiritual education of the world they run a Satellite Television Station (MTA), which broadcasts in seven languages around the clock every single day.
Such is this community, with love for all and hatred for none, serving Islam and humanity devotedly with the determination to raise the banner of Islam and the dignity of humanity all over the world and do whatever it can for the welfare and wellbeing of all, without any discrimination whatsoever.
The Ahmadiyya Muslims have won respect and admiration from all sections of the world community for their loyalty and peace loving practices. They have a golden heart for humanity. They have a track record of people who are honest, hardworking, innovative, reliable, responsible, and with high morals. They are a treasure for the nation wherever they are, but unfortunately Pakistan has shelved this treasure of human resources on account of sheer, meaningless, damaging religious prejudice, extremism and hatred by passing deliberate legislation and ordinances against Ahmadis.
Alas! Pakistan would open its eyes at this very critical juncture in its history and get the Ahmadiyya Muslims on board to extinguish the rising flames of terrorism, corruption and devastating situation of law and order in the country.
