Pakistan Bans Ahmadis from Celebrating Eid: Twin Notices from Rawalpindi and Lahore Mark Dangerous New Depth in State-Backed Persecution
Criminalizing Faith, Enabling Extremism—A State-Driven Assault on Religious Freedom
State Directives from Rawalpindi and Lahore
The International Human Rights Committee (IHRC) condemns the Pakistani government’s ongoing and intensifying persecution of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. In a deeply alarming development, two major cities—Rawalpindi and Lahore—have issued formal directives instructing police to ban Ahmadis from offering Eid prayers.
Rawalpindi
On 25 March 2025, the Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi issued an “IMMEDIATE” notice directing law enforcement to take action against “unauthorised gatherings resembling Islamic worship” by Ahmadis. The notice was triggered by a complaint from Raja Imran Khalid, Legal Advisor to the extremist Fidayan-e-Khatam-e-Nabuwwat Forum.
Lahore
Just days earlier, on 20 March 2025, the Deputy Commissioner of Lahore sent a similar directive to the city police, referencing Supreme Court Application No. 1113/2024 and invoking Article 298-C of Pakistan’s Penal Code. The application was initiated by another private petitioner backed by extremist counsel and was treated as “TOP PRIORITY” by Lahore authorities.
These state actions reveal a coordinated and dangerous pattern: the Pakistani state is operationalizing extremist pressure to criminalize Ahmadi worship—even on Eid.
Criminalizing Faith, Denying Eid
This action is a direct violation of international human rights norms, particularly Articles 18 and 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantee freedom of religion and belief. Banning a peaceful community from celebrating Eid is an assault not just on Ahmadis, but on the very principle of religious freedom itself.
It is also a flagrant breach of Pakistan’s own Constitution:
- Article 20 guarantees every citizen the right to profess and practice their religion.
- Article 26 prohibits discrimination in access to public spaces and services based on religion.
- Article 36 obligates the state to safeguard the rights of minorities.
Yet, instead of upholding these protections, the state is enforcing their violation. The Pakistani government is not merely failing to protect Ahmadis—it is actively targeting them. This notice confirms that Ahmadis are being denied their right to exist as Muslims, both in law and in practice.
State-Enforced Religious Apartheid
This incident is part of a nationwide campaign against Ahmadis:
- Mosques sealed or destroyed
- Graves desecrated
- Worshippers arrested for offering prayers
TLP’s extremist agenda has infiltrated state policy, turning Pakistan into a land where peaceful prayer is treated as a criminal act.
IHRC’s Urgent Appeal
IHRC urgently calls on the United Nations, European Union, USCIRF, OIC, the UK government, and all global rights organizations to take immediate action.
We demand:
- Revocation of the Rawalpindi notice
- Freedom for Ahmadis to observe Eid without fear
- Global designation of TLP as a terrorist group
The world must act—because silence is complicity.
Faith is not a crime. Eid is not illegal.
From Rawalpindi to Lahore, the state of Pakistan is enforcing a brutal religious apartheid against the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The international community must confront this injustice and demand immediate accountability.
An update to this Incident Report will be provided shortly.
