Pakistan: Ahmadi Muslims Denied Eid Worship Amid Police Crackdown and Legal Pressure
The International Human Rights Committee (IHRC) strongly condemns the coordinated actions of state authorities and influential legal bodies in Pakistan that have resulted in the prevention of Ahmadiyya Muslim citizens from observing their religious rites on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr (21 March 2026).
Reports confirm that Punjab Police officials forcibly intervened to prevent Ahmadis from offering Eid prayers across multiple districts. In several instances, places of worship were evacuated and locked, denying the community even the right to practice their faith within enclosed premises.
Documented Incidents Across Punjab
- Gujranwala: Authorities prohibited Ahmadis from congregating for Eid prayers.
- Sialkot: Police intervened at six locations, halting all Eid-related worship.
- Faisalabad: An Ahmadiyya place of worship was forcibly evacuated.
- Sargodha: Worshippers were removed from prayer centres, which were subsequently locked.
These actions represent a clear and systematic effort to suppress peaceful religious expression.
Evidence of Coordinated Legal Pressure
IHRC is deeply concerned by formal letters issued by bar associations, which appear to have contributed to or justified these actions:
- A letter issued by the Sindh High Court Bar Association, Larkana (18 March 2026) explicitly calls for action against Ahmadis performing religious practices, framing such acts as criminal offences. Link to letter: https://x.com/faith_defence/status/2034778535143874914?s=20
- A separate letter from the Lahore High Court Bar Association (23 February 2026) urges authorities to enforce legal provisions to prevent Ahmadis from engaging in religious activities. Link to letter: https://x.com/faith_defence/status/2034295928308335000?s=20
These documents demonstrate how sections of the legal community are actively advocating for the restriction of a minority’s fundamental rights, creating an environment that legitimises discrimination and emboldens administrative crackdowns.
Violation of Domestic and International Law
These actions constitute serious violations of:
- Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
- Article 20 of the Constitution of Pakistan
- The Supreme Court of Pakistan judgment (12 January 2022, Cr1.P.916-L/2021), which affirms Ahmadis’ right to practice their faith within the privacy of their homes and places of worship
Preventing worship even within four walls is a direct breach of binding judicial precedent.
IHRC Statement
IHRC notes with grave concern that while senior state officials publicly commit to countering extremism, actions on the ground reflect the opposite—where state machinery is used to restrict a peaceful religious minority.
The involvement of bar associations in advocating such measures raises serious questions about the erosion of legal neutrality and the role of institutions meant to uphold justice.
Denying a community the right to observe Eid—one of the most significant occasions in Islam—represents not only a legal failure but a profound moral one.
Call to Action
IHRC calls on the Government of Pakistan to:
- Immediately ensure Ahmadis can practice their religion without interference
- Enforce compliance with the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling nationwide
- Investigate the role of officials and institutions involved in these actions
- Hold accountable those who exceeded their authority or incited discrimination
- Ensure that legal bodies do not promote or legitimise violations of fundamental rights
