Lahore, December 3: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has condemned the destruction of over 100 tombstones at a graveyard for Ahmedis early on Monday and demanded the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.

HRCP said in a statement: “This is an unmistakable act of intimidation and escalation in the campaign of hate and violence against the Ahmedi community that has repeatedly been targeted across Pakistan because of its beliefs. Last night’s attack is shocking because it did not occur in a remote village but in the heart of the country’s second largest city. The trauma such an incident has caused to an increasingly persecuted community should not be very difficult to imagine. The attackers’ success in overpowering several persons at the graveyard and completing the destruction in half an hour shows that the incident was well-planned. It seems that the identity of the perpetrators might not be quite so obscure even though the attackers themselves wore masks. The police should have some strong leads to work on already. HRCP strongly calls upon the government to apprehend and try the culprits. The message that the attackers wanted to convey was simple: that they could act with impunity and without fear of any repercussions if Ahmedis were at the receiving end. If the authorities want to send a different message, the time to act is now.”

Zohra Yusuf

Chairperson