Pressure from Extremists: Ahmadis’ Worship Sites Illegally Demolished in Punjab

Police in Punjab, Pakistan, have demolished minarets of two Ahmadi places of worship under alleged pressure from extremists, defying a Lahore High Court ruling that such actions are illegal. The Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan (JAP) condemned the actions, highlighting ongoing discriminatory practices against the Ahmadi community.

In a recent development that has sparked outrage, police in Pakistan's Punjab province have reportedly demolished the minarets of two Ahmadi religious sites, according to Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan (JAP). The actions occurred in Khanewal and Gujranwala despite the Lahore High Court's ruling prohibiting such acts.

A JAP official, Amir Mahmood, highlighted that these worship places, built in the early 1950s, should be protected under court directives. The demolition occurred allegedly under pressure from religious extremists, leading to accusations of illegal activity against the authorities.

The incident has drawn widespread attention from human rights groups, with JAP urging immediate government intervention to protect Ahmadis from escalating religious discrimination and abuse of power by authorities.

(With inputs from agencies.)