Sat Mar 08 16:02:26 UTC 2025: ## Karachi Police Arrest Six Ahmadis After TLP Protest

**KARACHI, PAKISTAN –** Six members of the Ahmadi Muslim community were arrested in Karachi on Saturday, March 8th, 2025, following a protest by members of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party outside their place of worship. The arrests came after police initially provided protective custody to around two dozen Ahmadis due to threats from the TLP.

The TLP activists demanded the arrest of Ahmadi leaders and the closure of their place of worship, preventing the community from holding Friday prayers. Police registered cases against the six Ahmadis based on a complaint from a TLP activist.

A senior police official stated that the arrests were made in response to the TLP’s demands. DIG West, Irfan Baloch, indicated that police would seek legal counsel regarding the status of the Ahmadi place of worship.

Amir Mahmood, an Ahmadi community spokesperson, condemned the arrests as a grave violation of human rights and Pakistan’s constitution. He stated that TLP activists had threatened to destroy the place of worship. Ahmadis have historically faced persecution and violence, often resorting to holding religious services in private to avoid attacks.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed concern over a growing trend of mob attacks targeting religious minorities and their places of worship. In a recent report, the HRCP highlighted the arbitrary detention of Ahmadis, desecration of their graves, and the vulnerability of Hindu and Christian women to forced conversion. The report also noted that approximately 750 individuals were imprisoned on blasphemy charges as of October 2024, and documented at least four faith-based killings. The Ahmadi community, officially declared “non-Muslim” in 1974, continues to face significant challenges in Pakistan.

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