Punjab Police barred members of the Ahmadiyya community from performing Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at several locations across the province on March 21, 2026, prompting allegations of constitutional and human rights violations.
According to community representatives, police officials forcibly evacuated Ahmadi places of worship and sealed premises in multiple districts, citing government directives. Incidents were reported in Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, and Sargodha, where authorities allegedly prevented congregational prayers and, in some cases, removed worshippers from prayer sites.
In Gujranwala, local administration reportedly imposed a blanket ban on Ahmadi gatherings for Eid prayers. In Sialkot, police intervened at six separate locations. In Faisalabad, a place of worship was evacuated, while in Sargodha, several prayer centres were cleared and locked to prevent re-entry.
Amir Mahmood, spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya Community Pakistan, termed the actions a “grave violation” of fundamental rights. He argued that the measures contravene Article 20 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom to profess and practise religion, as well as Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
He also referenced a January 12, 2022, Supreme Court ruling (Cr1.P.916-L/2021), in which a bench comprising Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan affirmed the right of Ahmadis to practise their faith within the privacy of their homes.
The community has called on authorities to align administrative actions with constitutional guarantees and the Supreme Court’s ruling, and to hold officials accountable for disrupting what it described as peaceful religious observance.
Punjab Police have not issued an official statement in response to the allegations.