Press SectionNazaratUmurAama
28 July 2014 SadrAnjumanAhmadiyya Pakistan Rabwah
Press Release
Three Ahmadi females, including 8 month old infant die in arson attack in Gujranwala
Eight homes and four shops looted and gutted by mob in police presence
Rabwah (PR) It is with great regret and devastation that theAhmadiyya Communityconfirms that 3 of its members, including a 8 year old child and an 8 month old infant, have been murdered by local extremists in the area ofKachi-Pumpin Gujranwala, Pakistan in a sectarian attack. They were martyred for the sole reason that they were Ahmadi, whilst local police stood by and watched the massacre.
The deceased areMrsBushraBibi,55 years old , and her two granddaughters,Hiraaged 8 andKainaataged 8 months.
Further,MrsMubasharaBibi, who was 7 months pregnant, suffered a miscarriage.
8 other women and children are being treated for burns.
FACTS:
At8:30pmlocal time on 27 July 2014, anti-Ahmadi extremists gathered for a pre-planned ‘protest’ atKachi-Pumpin Gujranwala at a place where more than 15 Ahmadi Muslim families lived close to each other.
The extremists gathered on the pretext that an Ahmadi youth had defaced a picture of the KhanaKa’bah (theSacred Mosque) on Facebook. This allegation is completely false.
Soon the ‘protest’ turned into a violent and murderous attack where the homes of Ahmadi Muslims were burnt, ransacked and looted.
In total 8 homes and 4 shops belonging to Ahmadis were burnt by anti-Ahmadi extremists.
When the protest commenced 2 police vehicles were present but the on-duty police merely watched as the violence commenced.
The Ahmadiyya Community immediately responded and sought to evacuate the houses. However, due to the extent of the flames they were unable to evacuate one home in time and so 3 Ahmadis,BushraBibi, wife of Munir Ahmadand her 2 granddaughtersHira and Kainaat,daughters ofMuhammadButa, were left trapped and died of smoke inhalation and consequent suffocation.
An Ahmadi lady,MrsMubasharaBibi, who was 7 months pregnant, suffered a miscarriage.
8 other Ahmadi women and children suffered injuries and are being treated for burns at a local hospital.
The anti-Ahmadi extremists subsequently obstructed members of the fire brigade, who were forced to retreat before being able to extinguish the flames.
Similarly, ambulances at the scene were pelted with stones.
Later, more police officers attended the scene but took no immediate action whilst Ahmadi homes continued to be looted.
Following the attack, the Spokesman of AhmadiyyaCommunityPakistan ,SaleemUd Din said:
“Ahmadi across the world have been left shocked and utterly grieved by this horrific and devastating attack in Pakistan.It is impossible to comprehend the levels of hatred and wickedness that could motivate anyone towards such merciless brutality.
An 8 month old baby girl and her 8 year old sister have been killed along with their grandmother. A pregnant woman has lost her child. A number of others have been seriously injured and all of this simply because they were peaceful and law-abiding Ahmadis.
The Ahmadiyya Community will not ever take to the streets or respond with aggression. We respond only by bowing down before God Almighty, seeking His protection and help and affirming the Quranic injunction that ‘Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return’.
It is hoped that the international community and media takes full and proper notice of these brutal and senseless murders.If such hatred and sectarianism is allowed to continue then it is inevitable that further tragedies will occur.”
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