LAHORE: Several religious organisations celebrated September 7 as Khatm-i-Nabuwat Day. They demanded more religious and social sanctions on Ahmadis in Pakistan.
These organisations held indoor conferences, seminars and press conferences to express their reservations against Ahmadis to mark the day in 1974 when the parliament had declared the community non-Muslims. Speakers at these conferences demanded a ban on their activities. Aalmi Majlis Tahaffuz Khatm-i-Nabuwat held a seminar in this regard at Jamia Masjid Muslim Town where its leaders expressed their views against Ahmadis.
Maulana Yousaf urged Muslims to unite against Ahmadis. “At least 10,000 people were killed in the movement against Ahmadis in 1953. In 1974, we waged a legal battle and ensured that Ahmadis were declared non-Muslims. We should continue our efforts against them.” Maulana Azizur Rehman Sani said, “The Ahmadi’s presence in Pakistan amounts to setting up another Israel. There are rumours of conspiracies to bring Ahmadis into decision-making positions.”
Jamaat-i-Ahle Sunnat held a conference at Jamia Ghosia Rizvia on Bund Road. Mufti Muhammad Iqbal Chishti, its provincial leader, said Ahmadis should be taken to task for “preaching their faith.” “We will not allow anyone to remove provisions in the Pakistan Penal Code that provide punishment for blasphemers,” he said.
World Pasban Khatm-i-Nabuwat held Kul Musalik Khatme Nabuwat Conference at Lahore Press Club. Representatives of several religious parties participated in the conference. The participants passed a unanimous resolution paying tribute to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for his move against Ahmadis. “Bhutto provided a constitutional cover to finality of prophet hood in Pakistan by declaring Ahmadis non-Muslims.” “For this, Bhutto will remain a hero,” he said.
Tanzeem Ittehad-i-Ummat held a seminar at a private hotel where representatives of various religious parties expressed their views.
Muhammad Ziaul Haq Naqshbandi said Ahmadis should be removed from public offices. He said there should be a ban on Ahmadis speaking on television. He said there should be stricter punishment for apostates.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2016.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1178905/faith-based-various-groups-call-sanctions-ahmadis/