Aftermath

It became gradually clear to the mission that the Ahmadi community in Pakistan is one living in a climate of constant fear at all times looking over its shoulder. It is a community isolated with nowhere to turn but to itself for support. It was as though it was a community under siege.

The legacy of the day is barbed wire coiled around now higher and much fortified walls hemming the devotees in at both mosques and sentinels standing guard armed with rifles. One has the feeling of entering a high security prison, as one waits for one set of gates to close behind one before another opens, rather than a place of worship and prayer.

There is little other visible trace of the carnage that was inflicted that day. The indelible psychological scars of those left behind and a community living on edge was however very tangible and visible.

86 souls lost their lives as a result of these attacks and a further 116 were injured. The two terrorists apprehended by the Ahmadi community at the Model Town Mosque and handed over to the police were believed to have had no action taken against them. However, at the time of writing this report the mission has learnt that those two terrorists are now being tried by the Anti Terrorism Court. It remains to be seen whether the proceedings will be conducted properly and a just outcome will be achieved.

It became gradually clear to the mission that the Ahmadi community in Pakistan is one living in a climate of constant fear at all times looking over its shoulder. It is a community isolated with nowhere to turn but to itself for support. It was as though it was a community under siege.