We, the undersigned Canadians of Pakistani origin, strongly condemn the massacre of over eighty and the
wounding of many more Ahmedi citizens of Pakistan assembled in theirmosques in Lahore to offer
Friday prayers on May 28, 2010.
Our heart-felt sympathies and condolences go to the loved ones of those killed and injured in ttre brutal
and unprovoked attacks.
The harassment, persecution and killing of Ahmedis which began in the early 1950s - and has como to
include Christian, Zikris and Shias in the intervening six decades - is partly an attempt to divide people
and partly to divert their attention from the pressing issues of poverty and inequaltty and denial of
national rights fostered by an undemocratic and exploitative set-up.
We deplore the escalating trend in Pakistan to promote hatred and religious bigotry against the Ahmedi
community through the media of mass communication, press and pulpit.
We condemn the negligence at all levels of the government of Pakistan to restrain and prosecute under
law all those who openly incite violence against the Ahmedi, or any religious community, through their
inflammatory speeches, sermons and fawas.
As the Asia Human Rights Commission points out Ahmedi citizens of Pakistan do not have the right to
vote underthe eighth amendment ofthe 1973 Constitution and have no freedom to practice their faith,
belief, practice or worship. In spite of its claim to be a democracy the government of Pakistan has shown
no inclination to repeal its disgraceful laws and regulations against the Ahmedis.
We demand that the present democratically elected parliament of Pakistan remove from the constitution
of the country and all statute books discriminatory clauses and regulations referring to the religious
beliefs and institutions of minority citizens, and withdraw forthwith the much abused ’blasphemy law’.
We urge the present government of Pakistan to take full responsibility for the protection of life and liberty
of all its citizen, irrespective of their religious beliefs, national or ethnic affrliation or political cree4 and
stop hiding behind phony assertions of “foreign hands.”
We demand that the political leadership of Pakistan return to the golden rule enunciated by Quaid-e-
Azan Muhammad Ali Jinnah that “religion has no place in the affairs of the state.”
May 29, 2010
Abdul Hamid Bashani Khan (South Asian People’s Forum)
Abbas Syed (Committee of Progressive Pakistani Canadians)
Anwar Ahmad (Society of Pakistani Professionals and Academics)
Frenk Saptel (The trft Institute)
Haider Nizamani
Hassan Nawaz Gardezi
KhairMohammad Kolachi
Munir Pervaiz (Saami)
Nadeem Ahmed
Nazeer Chaudhry
Omar Latif (Committee of Progressive Pakistani-Canadians)
Pervaiz Salahuddin (Family of the Heart)
Syed Azeem (South Asian Peopleos Forum)
Tariq Amin Khan
Zahid Makhdoom
Zrulfrqar Gilani (Pashtun Peace Forum)