1953 Lahore riots
Lahore riots of 1953 | |||||||
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Part of the persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan | |||||||
Badshahi Mosque, Lahore | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Pakistan Army Punjab Police |
Majlis-e-Ahrar-e-Islam Majlis-e-Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwwat | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Azam Khan Rahimuddin Khan |
Abul Ala Maududi Abdul Sattar Khan Niazi | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
4 soldiers killed |
11 killed[1] 49 wounded | ||||||
Between 200[2] to 2,000 Ahmadis killed[3] |
The Lahore riots of 1953 were a series of violent riots against the Ahmadiyya Movement, a faith marginalized in Pakistan, mainly in the city of Lahore, as well as the rest of Punjab, which were eventually quelled by the Pakistan Army who declared three months of martial law.[2] The demonstrations began in February 1953, soon escalating into citywide incidents, including looting, arson and the murder of somewhere between 200[2] and 2000 people.[3] Thousands more were left displaced. According to the official inquiry conducted by the Punjab Government, the actual number killed in these riots was around 20. The first page of the inquiry says that before the declaration of martial law, the police killed two people on the night of 4th March and ten the 5th. 66 people were admitted to Lahore hospitals with gunshot wounds. The military attempting to quell the disturbances in Lahore admitted to killing 11 and wounding 49. There were additional casualties in other towns.[1] Seeing that police were unable to contain the increasingly widespread unrest, Governor-General Malik Ghulam Muhammad handed over the administration of the city to the army under Lieutenant General Azam Khan, imposing martial law on 6 March.
One of the major controversial differences between
Demands and culmination
Disturbances began after an ultimatum was delivered to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on 21 January 1953 by a deputation of ulama representing Majlis-i Amal (council of action) constituted by an All-Pakistan Muslim Parties Convention held in Karachi from 16 to 18 January 1953. (Including Tehreek-e-Khatme Nabuwwat — under
- Removal of Zafarullah Khanfrom the foreign ministry;
- Removal of Ahmadis from top government offices;
- Declaration of Ahmadis as non-Muslims.
... Majlis-e-Amal would resort to direct action (rast iqdum).[1]
Disturbances and aftermath
The ultimatum was rejected and disturbances commenced.[1]
On 6 March martial law was declared. Two people were killed by police prior to martial law and casualties "admitted by the military" caused in "quelling the disturbances in Lahore" were eleven killed and 49 wounded.[1]
Marking the military's first foray into civilian
On 19 June 1953 a Court Of Inquiry was established to look into disturbances, known as the
Timeline
- Jan - After the convention of the All Pakistan Muslim League at Dhaka, anti-Ahmadiyya elements threatened to take direct action after 22 February 1953, if their demands were not met.
- 1 Feb - Burial of an Ahmadi was resisted by anti-Ahmadiyya elements in Sargodha.
- 23 Feb - Anti-Ahmadiyya riots broke out in West Pakistan specially in Punjab Province.
- 27 Feb - Publication of Alfazal, a publication of the Ahmadiyya community, published from Lahore, was banned by the Government for one year. The vacuum was filled by the publication of Farooq. The first issue of Farooq was published on 4 March but after the second issue, it was forced to stop publication on 11 March.
- 5 Mar - Master Manzoor Ahmed, a teacher was killed in Baghbanpura, Lahore.
- 6 Mar - Ahmadiyya Noor Mosque, Rawalpindi was attacked and set on fire by a mob.
- Press belonging to an Ahmadi was burnt.
- Many shops and houses belonging to Ahmadis and the President of Jamaat Ahmadiyya, Rawalpindi were ransacked.
- 6 Mar - Countrywide riots including torture, murder attempts and arson started against the Ahmadiyya especially in Lahore.
- 6 Mar - Martial law was declared in Lahore[5]
- 8 Mar - Havaldar Abdul Ghafoor and another Ahmadi perfumer were killed in Lahore.
- 12 Mar - Additional Magistrate Jhang prohibited the Supreme Head of the Ahmadiyya Community from commenting on anti-Ahmadiyya riots and the anti-Ahmadiyya movement.
- 1 Apr - Mirza Shareef Ahmad and Mirza Nasir Ahmad were arrested in Lahore during the riots. They were released on 28 May.
- Superintendent of Police Jhang searched Qasre Khilafat and the central offices of Sadar Anjuman Ahmadiyya, Chenab Nagar.
- Nazir Tableegh was arrested.
- 7 May - Martial law authorities passed the death sentence on Maulana Abdus Sattar Niazi.
- 11 May - Martial Law authorities passed the death sentence on Abul Ala Maududi for writing Qadyani Masla, and certain press *statements delivered in February and March.
- 13 May - Maududi's and Niazi's death sentences were changed to life sentences.
- 14 May - Martial law was lifted.
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Report of the Court of Inquiry - Introductory". The persecution.org. 10 April 1954. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
- ^ ISBN 9789004277793. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ^ ISBN 9780788136313. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
In order to rid the community of what it considered to be deviant behavior, the JI waged a campaign in 1953 against the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan that resulted in some 2,000 deaths, brought on martial law rule in Punjab, ...
- ^ a b "Persecution of the Ahmadiyya Community in Pakistan: An Analysis Under International Law and International Relations" (PDF). Harvard Human Rights Journal. 16. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2005.
- ^ "07 Mar 1953 - Martial Law After Lahore Riots". nla.gov.au. 7 March 1953.