Despite ongoing persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan, the country has not experienced significant international pressure to address the state-sponsored discrimination they face. The discrimination is deeply rooted in Pakistan’s constitution, penal code, electoral system, law enforcement, and judicial processes, often seen as a domestic issue rather than religious repression, as highlighted in a report.
According to ‘The Diplomat,’ Pakistan’s silence on this matter has allowed discriminatory laws to persist domestically while projecting an image of a constitutional democracy internationally. The report emphasized that Pakistan should not use public order as an excuse to perpetuate disorder within religious communities in the country.
The report pointed out that Pakistan’s laws criminalize Ahmadis for identifying as Muslims, practicing their faith, or spreading it, subjecting them to imprisonment and fines. This legal framework has institutionalized discrimination against Ahmadis within the state itself, making it a systemic issue rather than isolated incidents of hostility or violence.
Farooq Aftab, an Ahmadi academic, highlighted that the legal discrimination against Ahmadis is overt and state-sanctioned. Pakistan’s legal system provides a basis for targeting Ahmadis, allowing acts of persecution to be justified under the guise of enforcing religious boundaries set by the state. This situation has led to ongoing persecution, even extending to desecration of Ahmadi graves due to their Islamic markings.
