Pakistan: Multiple suspects booked for allegedly vandalising, attacking Ahmadiya community members

The FIR, a copy of which is available with Pakistan newspaper Dawn News, was registered at Moutra police station on behalf of Sub-Inspector Amir Ali Sindhu.

The FIR ivokes Sections 395 (punishment for dacoity), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty), 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy a house), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups), 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 324 (attempt to commit murder), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon) and 149 (every member of an unlawful assembly guilty of an offence committed in prosecution of a common object) of the Pakistan Penal Code, read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

In the FIR, the complainant said he, along with other policemen, was patrolling and checking security arrangements at Bhalowali Chowk on Sunday when they received reports around 8pm of some people having riled others up against the Ahmadi community and gathering them in large numbers at Piro Chak village, the newspaper reported.

There were reports that the properties belonging to the community were looted.

“When I reached the spot, around 200-250 people armed with weapons and sticks were present there,” he said.

The FIR said it was not possible to immediately control the situation since the law enforcement officials were less in number.

“So, I contacted the control room after which more personnel were sent,” the FIR quoted the complainant as saying.

Sialkot District Police Officer (DPO) Faisal Shehzad told Dawn.com on Sunday night that eight people were injured in the incident, “five of whom are from the Ahmadi community and three from the TLP (Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan)”.

He said among the injured from the Ahmadi community, one person was shot at, adding that condition of all the injured was stable.

The DPO also said the issue began when the burial of an Ahmadi woman was not allowed at a graveyard established in 1945.