A deeply disturbing incident unfolded in Pakistan’s Punjab province when a lone gunman opened fire at the Bait-ul-Mahdi mosque in Rabwah, the headquarters of the Ahmadiyya community. The attack occurred during Friday prayers, targeting worshippers and volunteer guards stationed at the mosque. Chilling footage verified by local authorities shows the assailant approaching the gate with a pistol drawn, firing multiple rounds before one of the volunteers returned fire, killing him on the spot. Six members of the Ahmadi community were injured in the attack, though none of the guards or worshippers suffered fatalities.
Punjab Police have cordoned off the area and launched an investigation to determine whether the gunman was affiliated with any extremist group. While no organization has claimed responsibility, observers note that groups such as Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) have a history of targeting Ahmadi places of worship. The incident underscores a persistent climate of hate and intolerance towards the Ahmadi community in Pakistan.
Aamir Mahmood, spokesperson for Jamaat Ahmadiyya Pakistan, condemned the attack, linking it to longstanding hate campaigns and incendiary sermons that explicitly encourage violence against Ahmadis. He emphasized that fatwas exist promoting attacks on Ahmadis whenever encountered, and called for strict legal action against those perpetuating this climate of hatred. Mahmood also stressed the urgent need for protective measures for innocent members of the community to prevent further tragedies.
The attack highlights the continued persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan, a community that was officially declared non-Muslim by the Pakistani Parliament in 1974. Subsequent laws have restricted their religious practices, prohibiting them from identifying as Muslims, constructing minarets, or displaying Quranic verses in their mosques. The Rabwah incident has reignited global attention on the precarious status of Ahmadis in Pakistan, sparking renewed calls for international advocacy and legal protection for religious minorities in the country.
This event is not just a local tragedy but part of a broader pattern of intolerance, illustrating the dangers faced by religious minorities under a system that tolerates, and at times facilitates, systemic discrimination. The attack further emphasizes the urgent need for Pakistan to confront hate speech and enforce laws protecting all religious communities.
