Fri Apr 11 16:31:07 UTC 2025: ## Pakistani Police Demolish Ahmadi Mosques Despite Legal Protections
**Lahore, Pakistan –** Police in Pakistan’s Punjab province demolished two Ahmadi Muslim places of worship on Thursday night, sparking outrage from the minority community. The Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan (JAP) reported that police, acting under pressure from the extremist group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), razed the minarets and prayer niches of the mosques located in Nankana Sahib district.
The demolition occurred despite the Ahmadi community’s refusal to comply with the TLP’s demands and their assertion that they needed a legal court order. While local officials urged the community to remove the structures voluntarily, JAP spokesperson Aamir Mehmood condemned the police action as illegal and a blatant appeasement of extremism.
He criticized the authorities for failing to protect the Ahmadi community, who face ongoing persecution despite considering themselves Muslims. Pakistan declared Ahmadis non-Muslims in 1974, subsequently restricting their religious practices and prohibiting the construction of certain religious symbols. Although the Lahore High Court has ruled that pre-1984 places of worship are legal, this ruling was apparently ignored.
The incident highlights the precarious situation of Ahmadis in Pakistan, who continue to be targeted despite legal protections. The JAP’s condemnation calls for greater protection from authorities and an end to the persecution fueled by extremist groups.
First Piper 