Second Ahmadi Muslim Assassinated in One Week in Pakistan: Religious Hate Crimes Intensify Amid Alarming State Complicity
The International Human Rights Committee (IHRC) issues its strongest condemnation following yet another horrific act of religiously motivated violence in Pakistan. On the night of April 24, 2025, two Ahmadi Muslim youths were ambushed by armed extremists in Bhullair, District Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan. Muhammad Asif, a 19-year-old student, was shot dead, while Ihsan Ahmad sustained critical injuries.
This brutal murder comes just six days after the killing of Mr. Laiq Ahmed Cheema in Karachi, marking a devastating escalation in the state-enabled campaign of terror against the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Pakistan.
19-year-old Ahmadi Muslim Student, Muhammad Asif murdered by extremists.
Ahmadi Muslim Youth, Ihsan Ahmad – who was injured in the attack.
The Attack:
Muhammad Asif, son of Rafiq Ahmad, and his friend Ihsan Ahmad were riding a motorcycle when they were targeted by extremists in a calculated assault. The attackers opened fire without provocation, killing Asif instantly. Ihsan Ahmad remains in critical condition.
This was not a random act of violence. It was a premeditated religious assassination—the latest in a series of targeted attacks against Ahmadi Muslims. In District Kasur, this crime follows intense intimidation, the state-sponsored closure of an Ahmadi Muslim place of worship, and growing public hate speech—all of which created a lethal environment for such atrocities to occur.
The perpetrators have yet to be arrested. No meaningful response has been issued by law enforcement or the federal government, laying bare the impunity that emboldens extremist actors and exposes the state’s shocking complicity and neglect.
A Pattern of State-Facilitated Persecution:
This killing occurred mere days after the gruesome beating to death of Mr. Laiq Ahmed Cheema in Karachi—another Ahmadi Muslim murdered for his faith. These two murders in one week are not isolated events but part of a coordinated, systemic campaign to eliminate Ahmadi Muslims from public life through fear, violence, and official exclusion.
The ongoing refusal by authorities to protect Ahmadis or prosecute hate crimes makes the state directly responsible for this climate of persecution. Extremist elements continue to incite violence openly, aided by discriminatory laws and deafening silence from institutions tasked with safeguarding human life and freedom.
Legal and Human Rights Violations:
The targeted assassination of Muhammad Asif and the attempted murder of Ihsan Ahmad constitute grave breaches of national and international legal obligations, including:
Under Pakistan’s Constitution:
- Article 9: Right to life and liberty.
- Article 20: Right to profess, practice, and propagate religion.
- Article 25: Equality of all citizens before the law.
Under International Law:
- ICCPR (ratified by Pakistan):
- Article 6: Inherent right to life.
- Article 18: Freedom of religion and belief.
- Articles 2 & 26: Prohibition of discrimination and guarantee of equal legal protection.
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR):
- Article 3: Right to life, liberty, and security of person.
- Article 18: Right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
Pakistan’s failure to prevent, investigate, and prosecute these crimes is a direct violation of its legal obligations. Its complicity through silence, inaction, and discriminatory policies is a stain on its human rights record.
IHRC Demands:
The IHRC urgently calls on the Pakistani state and international community to act with resolve:
- Immediate arrest and prosecution of all those responsible for the murder of Muhammad Asif and the attempted killing of Ihsan Ahmad.
- Full protection for Ahmadi Muslims in Kasur, Karachi, and across Pakistan, including restoration and safeguarding of their places of worship.
- Legal action against hate speech, incitement, and extremist propaganda that fuels these attacks.
- International pressure and monitoring, particularly from UN special rapporteurs and human rights bodies, to ensure accountability and systemic reform.
Conclusion:
The murder of Muhammad Asif is not just a tragedy—it is an indictment of a state that has abdicated its duty to protect its citizens. Religious freedom in Pakistan is under siege, and the Ahmadi Muslim community is paying the price with their lives. Unless firm, immediate, and transparent action is taken, these attacks will only continue.
The IHRC stands in unwavering solidarity with the families of the victims and the Ahmadi Muslim community around the world. We will not remain silent.
