Protest – Da Vincci Code
1. About 500 Christians most of them school children
protested against the disputed film Da Vincci Code demanding
ban on the film as it hurt the religious feelings of the Christian
community.
Daily Times June 1, 2006
2. Jamat-e-Islami, a religio – political
party protested against the disputed film Da Vincci Code. Individuals
belonging to the Christian and Hindu communities also joined
the protest. The protesters demanded severe punishment for the
film producer.
Daily Nawa-e-Waqt May 21, 2006
Provocation
A factory at Sialkot printed the Sign of the Cross
on the footballs. The head of Pakistan Prem Party - Sialkot
Reverend Khursheed M. Kardia expressed his grief on this gesture
and said that such a reaction to the blasphemous caricatures
was in bad taste. Taqreer
March 8, 2006 Gujranwala
Blind Hatred
During the anti-cartoons demonstrations at Lahore on
February 14, the demonstrators attacked and badly damaged
the Shezan Restaurant on the Mall Road owned by an Ahmadi in
the past but sold to a Muslim in 1974. The general manager of
the company made a statement that Shezan restaurant was not
owned by Mirzais that the management and workers in the food
company were Muslims. Yet the restaurant was reduced to ashes.
It reflects the psyche of religious groups in Pakistan as regards
riots and religion. Ahmadi
Community
Looped in fabricated case - Peshawar
On October 29, 2006 Arif Masih (36)
was arrested by the police on the allegation of stealing 72
grams of gold jewelry and 100 dollars from the house of Hashim
Afridi, a retired Air Force Officer.The accused was a sanitary
worker at Pakistan Air Force Camp. In addition he also worked
at Hashim Afridi’s house for last four years for Rs.500/-
per month.Blaming the Christian family Afridi said that Arif
Masih and the family was absent for a while and the accused
was the only one had access to inside the house.
Naseem Bibi, the wife of the accused approached many people
for his release but in vain. The neighbors and acquaintances
informed that accused maintained good character and living conditions
of Arif did not reflect that he had any wealth at his disposal.
He was sent to jail. Arif was charged in four other false
cases also and released on bail till this report. NCJP
report
Fake agreement of compromise
On August 12, 2006 Babar Munir Masih a Christian
was crushed to death by a bus driver Zafar Iqbal on Faisalabad
road at Sheikhupura.The bus owners had Munir to sign a blank
paper at the police station, saying that they just wanted permission
to release the bus from police custody. However, later they
made a false agreement of compromise between them and the victim’s
family.When the family of the deceased came to know, they approached
Sessions Court where the case was pending till this report.
NCJP
report
Attack on show room
The religious parties took out a procession to protest
against the objectionable caricatures on February 12, 2006
at Rahimyar Khan. A mob comprising approximately 2500 protesters
marched through the bazaar. When they arrived at the shop of
the electronics’ items owned by Messrs Shakil Ahmad and
Tariq Mahmud, two Ahmadi brothers, someone pointed out the fact.A
group attacked the store and smashed the glass casings and the
inventory. Police was present at the spot but did not take action
to protect the property.
The mob dispersed after finishing their work. The District Police
Officer inspected the site and registered an FIR of the incident.
The loss was about half a million rupees.
Ahmadi Community
Violence in the name of religion
Religious violence against the Ahmadi’s in the
country claimed 11 lives and indictment of 60 persons in 2005
according to the Ahmadi Jamat annual report.The report, said
16 of the 60 were booked on charges of blasphemy. Rules of Local
government elections held during 2005 were so framed that it
was impossible for Ahmadis to contest the elections and cast
their votes.
The report said that 79 Ahmadis had been killed from 1984
– 2005 after the Anti Ahmadiya law was made more
stringent.
Daily Dawn March 21, 2006
