By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: An Ahmadi man was arrested in Gujranwala, Punjab, for distributing free food during Ashura, a revered Muslim holy day, in a case that has reignited tensions over Pakistan’s blasphemy laws and the treatment of religious minorities.
Ashura, a significant day in the Islamic calendar when Muslims commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein.
Police confirmed the arrest Monday, following a July 6 complaint accusing the man of violating restrictions that bar Ahmadis from identifying as Muslims or joining Islamic rituals.
The case was registered under Section 298(C) of the Pakistan Penal Code, which criminalises acts by Ahmadis, such as calling themselves Muslims or referring to their faith as Islam.
Muhammad Irfan, public relations officer to the Gujranwala city police officer, said the suspect has been arrested and sent to jail on judicial remand for seven days.
According to the first information report (FIR), the complainant observed the man distributing biryani at a langar, a tradition of providing free food often linked to religious occasions and accused him of “identifying himself as a Muslim and speaking and acting like a Muslim.”
The complainant noted that he summoned two others to confront the man, but “the suspect fled from the scene when he saw us.”
The FIR emphasised that the Ahmadi man was not permitted to perform Islamic rituals under Pakistani law, which classifies Ahmadis as non-Muslims and bars them from engaging in such practices.
Senator Sherry Rehman of Pakistan’s Peoples Party swiftly condemned the arrest, expressing hope that the government would annul the FIR.
The arrest unfolded on the 10th of Muharram, known as Ashura, a day of mourning and charity for Muslims, particularly Shia communities. The act of distributing food, a common practice on this occasion, landed the Ahmadi man in legal jeopardy due to the strict regulations governing his community’s religious expression.
Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, including Section 298(C), have long been a flashpoint in debates over religious freedom. Enacted as part of constitutional amendments in 1974 and bolstered by subsequent legislation, these laws explicitly prohibit Ahmadis from identifying as Muslims or participating in Islamic rituals.
Violations can lead to imprisonment and, in most cases, mob violence. The incident follows a pattern of heightened scrutiny of the Ahmadiyya community. Last month, the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) wrote to the Punjab police chief, urging action to prevent Ahmadis from observing Islamic rituals during Eidul Azha, another major Muslim holiday.
The LHCBA argued that Ahmadis “are neither legally nor religiously permitted to use Islamic symbols and practices,” a stance that underscores the systemic exclusion of the sect. Human rights groups have repeatedly sounded the alarm over these restrictions.
A Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) report released last year documented a “growing trend of mob-led attacks” on religious minorities, including their homes and places of worship. The report highlighted the “arbitrary detention” of Ahmadis, the “desecration of their graves,” and the “vulnerability of Hindu and Christian women” to forced conversion.
The HRCP found that, as of October 2023, over 750 individuals were imprisoned on blasphemy charges. Among the documented cases were at least four faith-based killings, three targeting Ahmadis.
The report pointed to disinformation on social media as a key trigger for many blasphemy accusations, amplifying public outrage and legal action. Most troubling, the HRCP observed an “increasing weaponisation of blasphemy laws against Ahmadis,” with law enforcement officials often initiating cases themselves. This trend suggests a deepening entanglement of state authority and religious intolerance.
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