Leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) appear to be once again spewing hatred against the persecuted Ahmadi community to woo their rightist fanbase. In their recent speeches, PTI leader Ali Muhammad and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed spewed venom against the Ahmadiyya community.
On May 8 during the PTI rally in Abbottabad, PTI leader Ali Muhammad during a speech referred to a resolution he had recommended to the National Assembly which was unanimously adopted, and said the resolution had ‘broken the backs’ of the ‘Qadianis’, which is a derogatory term used for members of the Ahmadiyya community.
عمران خان کی حکومت نے قادیانیت کی کمر توڑی:
علی محمد خان۔via @AhmadMohsin111
PTI leader enlisting PTI’s achievements: “Our govt. took effective steps to counter the Ahmadis. We broke their neck.”
I call on every Pakistani with a conscience to condemn this hate speech. pic.twitter.com/2B4o63CEMh
— Kashif N Chaudhry (@KashifMD) May 9, 2022
The resolution by Ali Muhammad made it mandatory to write ‘Khatim-un-Nabiyeen’ (Seal of the Prophets) alongside the Prophet Muhammad’s (Peace Be Upon Him) name whenever it appeared in official documents, text books or other written material.
کی محمدسے وفا تو نے تو ہم تیرے ہیں
یہ جہاں چیزہے کیا لوح و قلم تیرے ہیںآج میں نے قومی اسمبلی سےمتفقہ قرارداد پاس کروائ جس کی اپوزیشن اوراقلیت سب نے تائید کی کہ جہاں بھی حضرت محمد صلی اللہ علیہ و آلہ وسلم کااسم مبارک لکھا جائے توساتھ ہی خاتم النبیّن بھی لکھا جائے۔
مبارک ہو pic.twitter.com/Hmy6EN8zNG— Ali Muhammad Khan (@Ali_MuhammadPTI) June 22, 2020
On April 21, Sheikh Rasheed, during a PTI rally in Lahore, called the city of Lahore the ‘fortress of Khatam-e-Nabuwat’. He praised leaders of the Majlis-e-Ahrar, a fundamentalist religious party that was responsible for the anti-Ahmadi riots of 1953, that resulted in the killing of thousands of Ahmadis.
Senior PTI leader @ShkhRasheed praises Ahrar leadership in reference to nationwide anti-Ahmadi riots that they instigated from Lahore in 1953, killing scores of Ahmadis.
This is the religious extremism we need to fight. Will my PTI friends condemn this bigotry? pic.twitter.com/NgiSw0PUUs
— Kashif N Chaudhry (@KashifMD) April 21, 2022
“Lahore is the city of Sorash, it is the city of Ataullah Shah Bukhari, and it is the fortress of Khatam-e-Nabuwat” he said, referring to Sorash Kashmiri and Syed Ataullah Shah Bukhari, founders of the Majlis-e-Ahrar.
People on social media are criticizing the two for inciting hate and violence towards minority groups for political gains.
After three-and-a-half years in govt, PTI can count anti-Ahmadi bigotry and use of religion as its biggest achievement. pic.twitter.com/dZ63Dd7JCs
— Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) May 9, 2022
Only in Pakistan will we see a political party/parties proudly claiming to suppress minorities as their achievement.
I really hope the world takes notice of what we are doing to the Ahmadiyyah community. https://t.co/yn5FBDFTas— A (@Bhuut_) May 9, 2022
This is utterly condemnable.
What are the Ahmadis of Pakistan doing that anyone or any party has to do any "back and neck breaking"? Ahamdis are highly productive, peaceful citizens of Pakistan, LEAVE THEM ALONE. They already exist as invisible beings fearful of their lives. https://t.co/HgWeSd5zE8— Mehr Tarar (@MehrTarar) May 9, 2022
Some say it is reminiscent of their behavior in 2018, when PTI tried to garner support for the ouster of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif, by alleging he was considering allowing Ahmadis the right to vote.
Reminding everyone that the pretext for IK's push to oust NS in 2018 was that the latter's govt had conspired to allow Ahmadis the right to vote in Pakistan.
To push his case, he frequented Khatme Nabuwat conferences & affirmed his commitment to the anti-Ahmadi laws. https://t.co/HcBL0qiqEK
— Kashif N Chaudhry (@KashifMD) April 14, 2022
Some people are also pointing out the hypocrisy of PTI leader Shireen Mazari’s appeal for intervention against the ongoing blasphemy cases against PTI over the Madina incident. when the party itself is using the religion card against opponents.