Hate material now at ATMs too

After a crackdown on terrorists was launched in Karachi in September 2013, it has been difficult to spot graffiti or posters instigating hatred against religious minorities or sects. While most organisations are clever about it, some still openly run a hate campaign against a minority group.

Although an uncommon sight in the mainstream areas of the city, a poster and stickers inciting hatred against the Ahmadiyya community were recently seen pasted next to the ATM door of a bank near Disco Bakery in Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

The authorities concerned including the owners of the building are supposed to remove the hate-promoting material but fear invoking the wrath of religious extremists.

“We haven’t removed the poster and stickers yet because we aren’t sure about who pasted them,” said a representative of the bank. “Besides if we do so, it will put the lives of our staffers at a risk.”

The poster carries the name of the organisation that pasted it and the address of its website.

On Sunday night, a member of the Ahmadiyya community was murdered outside his house in Block-1 of Gulshan-e-Kaneez Fatima in Sachal.

Five months ago, a doctor belonging to the community was shot dead at his clinic in the Abul Hassan Ispahani area, not far from the bank.

Speaking on these cases, SSP East Faisal Abdullah said that the law was very much in place for such occurrences.

“Given that it’s a minority issue, we have a law depending on the level of the hate speech or material. For instance, the poster and stickers next to the ATM falls in the category ogf hate material and we will take action against it,” he added.

“It is also important to see how frequently it’s being done and then through the Fourth Schedule under Anti-Terrorism Act, the individuals involved in this activity will be kept under watch.”

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan chairperson Zohra Yusuf said given that it was illegal to incite hatred against any community, the law-enforcement agencies must swiftly look into the matter.

“If the people responsible for that place are hesitant in removing the posters and stickers, then the authorities concerned should take immediate action and ensure they are removed. A similar incident took place at market in Lahore and the banners were removed, so the authorities here should also follow suit.”

Yusuf said by pasting such posters near places like an ATM, these groups were trying to reach everyone instead of remaining restricted to madrasas and mosques.

“In fact, terrorist outfits like Hizb ut-Tahrir are reaching out to affluent youngsters to recruit them. It’s prevalent in Punjab but as there have been cases here too, there should be a region-wise check on such activities,” she added.

A member of the Ahmadiyya community said although the number of such occurrences was lower in Karachi in comparison with the cities of Punjab, there were little efforts to stop hate-mongering groups.

“Nobody should be allowed to spread hatred against any community because this act doesn’t take place in isolation rather it affects the entire society as it can’t be contained.”

He said banners inciting hatred against the Ahmadiyya community were put up at the Hafeez Centre in Lahore, a well-known market, and were soon removed. However, a few days earlier the banners were put up there again indicating that it was a continuous cycle and would not stop until strict action was taken.

Speaking about the National Action Plan, he said hate speech must be curbed in accordance with the law but in the case of the Ahmadiyya community, there shortcomings in its implementation as the members still feel threatened.

Although SSP Abdullah had assured that he would look into the issue, the poster and stickers, as of Sunday afternoon, were still pasted near the ATM door.