Escalation of persecution against Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan

I write to express my deep concern over the escalating persecution of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Pakistan.

One of the most alarming incidents were the gruesome killing of two Ahmadi Muslims in the space of a week. On 18 April in Karachi. 47 year old Mr Laeeq Cheema was violently beaten to death outside our mosque by a mob of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) extremists as they chanted anti-Ahmadi slogans. Additionally on 24 April, 19 year old Mr Muhmmad Asif was tragically shot dead for his faith in Bhulair, District Kasur, by unidentified extremists .

The is part of a surge in anti-Ahmadi violence and persecution by the extremists and authorities that has seen:

· six Ahmadis were murdered in 2024;

· 50 Ahmadi mosques attacked since 2023 and 421 graves desecrated since 2021;

· multiple mosques sealed by police across Pakistan – often under mob pressure from TLP;

· more than 65 Ahmadis arrested for praying including on the holy day of Eid; and

· groups like TLP openly call for attacks on Ahmadis and Ahmadi mosques

Such violence and persecution has no basis in law and it undermines Pakistan’s Constitution and Pakistan’s commitments under international human rights obligations.

I urge you to raise this with the UK Government to press Pakistan to end such horrific attacks, crackdown on extremists such as TLP and end the persecution of Ahmadi Muslims and other religious communities in Pakistan.

I look forward to hearing from you on these deeply distressing matters.