Pakistan: Publisher's life threatened for publishing autobiography of a retired Ahmadi judge

Ahmadiyya Times

The leader of the group, infamous extremist, Muawiyya, is the bother of mullah Tahir Ashrafi, chairman, Pakistan Clerics' Council, operates in the city of Lahore.

"The leaders of the Khatm-e-Nabuwatt extremist groups have warned that it is too late and that the call to kill him [Mr Adil] has been communicated country wide and there is no stopping it."

An editor and publisher is facing serious threats to his life from Muslim militants for publishing an autobiography of a retired judge of the Lahore High Court who hails from the Ahmadi sect.

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has reported that the religious extremist group Tehrik-e Khatm-e-Nabuwat (TKN) together with a contingent of police forces raided the office of Muhhamad Shoaib Adil, editor of the Monthly magazine, Naya Zamana, and publisher of Naya Zamana publications in Lahore, and have confiscated the books including also other books in his office.

Mr Adil was taken into custody on June 12 at around 5.30 in the evening following the raid of his office. Other books, such as publications of the government of Punjab, on poetry as well as a physics book were also confiscated, claiming they were against Islam.

The attackers included more than a dozen TKN militants and several policemen from the Civil Lines police station in Lahore.

According to local reports, the Muslim fundamentalist group, led by one Muhammad Hasan Muawiya, had arrived on motor bikes and had coerced the police to arrest Mr. Adil on charges of Blasphemy. The leader of the group, infamous extremist, Muawiyya, is the younger bother of mullah Tahir Ashrafi, chairman, Pakistan Clerics' Council. Muawiyya operates in the city of Lahore, where he maintains close connections with the provincial government officers and it is learnt that the police too are generally in support of his actions and is even known to follow his orders.

The Naya Zamana editor, had been held in police custody overnight and it is reported that the extremists groups did not allowed the police to release him even after having found no evidence of the books being against the Islamic religion.

AHRC further reported that the extremist groups had also watched the police station overnight not allowing Adil's release. However, he was released early morning the following day, after the extremists group has dispersed. According to sources, following the forced closure of the publication house by the extremist group, and following threats to his life, the Editor together with his family have fled Lahore. The Urdu monthly magazine, Naya Zamana, is popular in Punjab province for its liberal and progressive writing. It is also popular among religious minority groups, the Christians, the Hindus, Ahmadis and Shia sects as it gives more coverage to the persecution of religious minorities. The AHRC also reports that another activist of Khatm-e-Nabuwat, Qari Rafiq, has filed a petition against the Mr Adil, in the Additional Session Court to file charges of blasphemy under section 295-C of Pakistan Penal Code accusing him of posing as a Muslim despite being an Ahmadi.

The session court had fixed the date of next hearing for the 18 June 2014 and has issued notice to the police for the reply of questions raised by the petitioner. According to sources on the date of the said hearing on 18 June, police had not been present in court, as they could not find any evidence about Mr Adil being an Ahmadi. The petitioner, Qari Rafiq has been involved in the past in forcefully grabbing land belonging to Christians on false allegations of them desecration the Quranic versus.

Further, the main perpetrator, Hasan Muawiyya, the leader of the extremist group is reported to be a close friend of provincial law minister, Rana Sanaullah who is known to provide Muawiyya impunity. Muawiyya's elder brother, Allama Tahir Ashrafi, is the Islamic religious leader and chief of Council of Ulemas (religious leaders) who claims he exerts no control over his younger sibling.

The AHRC also learned that several attempts by even religious leaders to approach Khatm-e-Nabuwaat in order to settle the issue about Mr. Adil have failed. The leaders of the Khatm-e-Nabuwatt extremist groups have warned that it is too late and that the call to kill him has been communicated country wide and there is no stopping it.

Further references on Muhammad Hasan Muawiya can be accessed at http://www.humanrights.asia/news/forwarded-news/AHRC-FPR-008-2013?searchterm=hasan+muawiya