Ahmadi man beaten to death by mob in Karachi

KARACHI: A father of seven children said to be affiliated with the Ahmadiyya community was beaten to death by a mob near an Ahmadiyya worship place close to the Saddar Mobile Market on Friday.

According to police and community sources, the incident took place during “Friday prayers” when hundreds of individuals allegedly affiliated with a religious group surrounded the Ahmadi worship place, chanting slogans and demanding its closure. Those inside the hall were trapped due to the aggressive protest, which caused panic and fear in the locality.

The victim, identified as 46-year-old Laiq Cheema, was a member of the Ahmadiyya community. He was not inside the worship place at the time but standing at some distance outside, reportedly recording videos of the protest when he was spotted by some members of the mob. Upon recognising him, some individuals attacked him with batons and sticks, beating him severely until he died.

Preedy SHO Shabbir Hussain confirmed to The News that the incident involved around 250 to 300 supporters of the religious group and that police rushed to the scene immediately after being alerted. “We are currently trying to bring the situation under control and ensure the safety of around 40 people still inside the worship place,” he said.

“The victim was attacked while standing outside and filming the protest. The mob identified him as an Ahmadi and violently assaulted him, resulting in his death,” the officer explained.

SHO Hussain added that arrests would follow and an FIR would be registered after the situation had become stable.

The Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan said in a press statement that Cheema was 46-year-old member of the Ahmadiyya community who was brutally lynched outside the Ahmadiyya Hall within the jurisdiction of Karachi’s Preedy police station. Cheema is survived by two wives, three sons, and four daughters.

No case had been registered and no arrest made till the filing of this news story.

The Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has sought a thorough, impartial and expeditious investigation by a competent officer into the killing of a member of the Ahmadiyya community.

Reacting to the incident, SHRC Chairperson Iqbal Ahmed Detho wrote to the deputy inspector general of the District South police, asking him to submit a detailed report outlining the progress made in the investigation as well as measures taken to address any challenges within 15 days.