Brutal shooting at Ahmadi worship site in Lahore reveals escalating hatred, state apathy in Pakistan

Lahore, October 11, 2025: In an incident highlighting the persecution of Pakistan’s Ahmadiyya community, a gunman opened fire outside the Baitul Mehdi worship place in Chenab Nagar, Chiniot district, injuring six volunteer security guards. The attack underscores the deteriorating climate of intolerance faced by this marginalized group, reports 24brussels.

The assailant was recorded on CCTV approaching the gate before indiscriminately firing at the guards, who are all members of the Ahmadi community. Despite their injuries, the guards managed to close the main entrance, effectively preventing a more severe incident. Responding officers engaged the shooter, killing him at the scene.

The injured guards were transported to a local hospital, where four were reported stable and two remained in critical condition. The attacker’s body has been placed in a morgue as police launch an investigation into the shooting.

Ahmadiyya spokesperson Aamir Mahmood condemned the assault, denouncing the growing atmosphere of hate that encourages such violence. He urged the government to take decisive action against hate preachers and ensure the protection of Ahmadi citizens.

This latest incident has drawn attention to the vulnerability of the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan, which has long faced systemic discrimination and violence. Human rights observers warn that rampant hate speech and governmental inaction empower extremists, as exemplified by the recent attack.

Pakistan continues to face international condemnation for its entrenched religious intolerance. A recent report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) highlighted the systematic persecution of the Ahmadiyya community and the troubling rise in forced conversions and blasphemy-related violence across the nation.

According to reports, the Pakistani Penal Code discriminates against Ahmadis, forbidding them from identifying as Muslims or publicly practicing their faith. The USCIRF documented a significant increase in violence against Ahmadis in 2025, including the demolition of three Ahmadi mosques in Punjab within ten days in February.

In April, a mob of over 400 attacked another Ahmadi mosque, leading to the lynching of Laeeq Cheema, an activist documenting previous assaults. Police subsequently arrested 13 individuals connected to the killing. In March, two Ahmadi men were assaulted inside a courtroom, resulting in the death of one, Tahir Mahmood.

Tragically, another Ahmadi, Sheikh Mahmood, was killed in Sargodha following repeated death threats. Reports indicate that authorities in Punjab have excluded Ahmadis from property auctions and even filed cases against 42 members for praying in private homes. During Eid, courts ordered police to prevent Ahmadis from congregating, leading to the arrest of 22 worshippers in Sialkot.

BYC accuses Pakistan of using courts as a tool of repression in Balochistan

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has accused Pakistani authorities of deliberately prolonging the illegal detention of its key leaders through systematic legal delays and the denial of justice, reports 24brussels. According to The Balochistan Post, the organisation claimed that central organisers Dr Mahrang Baloch, Beebarg Baloch, Sibghatullah Shah Jee, Beebow Baloch, and Gul Zadi Baloch remain imprisoned under extended judicial remand after an already protracted period of physical detention. Despite multiple court orders, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has not yet filed a formal charge sheet, which the BYC interpreted as a deliberate tactic to extend their custody indefinitely.

The BYC asserted that ongoing court extensions demonstrate a “coordinated effort” between judicial and security institutions to deny the detainees their constitutional rights. Additionally, the group condemned the authorities’ recent decision to transfer upcoming court hearings to Quetta’s Hudda Jail instead of conducting them in an open court. They labelled this shift as a “serious violation of fundamental rights” and a breach of both domestic and international legal norms.

The organisation expressed serious concern about the health condition of detained social activist Beebarg Baloch, who reportedly suffers from a blocked urinary tract requiring immediate medical attention. Allegations surfaced that prison officials have refused to provide him with adequate treatment, which the BYC described as “cruel, inhumane, and contrary to international humanitarian standards,” as noted by The Balochistan Post.

In its appeal, the BYC called upon the United Nations, international human rights organisations, and global civil society groups to intervene and hold Pakistan accountable for what it deemed “unlawful detention and systematic rights violations.” The statement highlighted that the ongoing suppression of peaceful Baloch voices illustrates Islamabad’s escalating crackdown on dissent and its disregard for due process, according to The Balochistan Post.