1974 Anti-Ahmadiyya riots


1974 Anti-Ahmadiyya riots was the single largest killing and looting of Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan's history. The Islamist parties and some mainstream parties sided together to persecution of Ahmadis.

Background and Reasons

One of the major controversial differences between Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and mainstream Sunni and Shia Muslims is their different interpretations of Khatam an-Nabiyyin. Sunni and Shia Muslims are awaiting the coming of the Mahdi and the Second Coming of Jesus reject the claims of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad whom Ahmadis believe to be the Promised Messiah and Mahdi. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was a vocal proponent of the Pakistan Movement and were actively engaged with the Muslim league, having strong relations with many prominent Muslim Leaguers and were opposed to the Congress-backed Jamaat-e-Islami and Majlis-e-Ahrar-ul-Islam.
After the independence of Pakistan in 1947 Ahmadis prospered and reached many high ranking Government and Military positions. Ahmadis held up stay as an important political force in Pakistan, but by 1970 religious parties made large headway due to radicalization and Saudi financial contributions and were a large political force in Pakistan. These parties continuously demanded a constitutional amendment to declare Ahmadis as non Muslims but to no avail, and turned to violent protests and hate-filled speeches, including the infamous 1953 Lahore riots. In 1974, the students of Nishtar Medical College had an altercation with Ahmadis at the Rabwah Railway Station. This event turned into a massive and violent anti-Ahmadiyya riot resulting in many casualties among Ahmadis and destruction to Ahmadiyya property.

Timeline of events

The riots were started by the students of Nishtar Medical College Multan attack on Ahmadis present in Rabwah Railway Station. This incident triggered year long country-wide attacks on Ahmadis leading to loss of many lives and property.
Jun 12 All Ahmadis were arrested in Dera Ismail Khan.
Sep 03 Stone pelting on Ahmadiyya houses in Chak 32 South, Sargodha.
The following members appeared before the Parliament of Pakistan.
Under pressure from Islamists, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and other members declared Ahmadis to be non-Muslims.
All meetings/conventions of auxiliary Ahmadiyya organizations were canceled for not getting permission from Government.

Aftermath

Pakistan

During the extremist Islamism of Zia-ul-Haq, a more strict anti-Ahmadiyya law was passed known as Ordinance XX. Ahmadi life became more persecuted and strict.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

It was a great loss and worst year for the community. Many important members of the community were killed. There was a great loss to the buildings. Mirza Tahir Ahmad after implementation of Ordinance XX left Pakistan to migrate for UK in 1984. The recording of debate on the Ahmadi issue was not released. Later, Ahmad prove the declaration of non-Muslims as a truth of the community. ref