Daily Times: COMMENT: High context low trust culture —Yasser Latif Hamdani

In the 1,400 years of Islam’s history, the great faith has sustained onslaughts both from within and without, without its glory dimming even slightly

Congratulations are in order for the Khatm-e-Nabuwat Lawyers Forum, which comprises two and a half rotund lawyers who spend their days eating and lolling in the Atif Centre behind the High Court while planning to rid Pakistan of the ‘Qadiani conspiracies’. — The Forum has struck another blow for the glory of Islam. They have managed to round up the staff and publishers of Al- Fazl, an old Ahmedi newspaper in Lahore. Not only that, they encouraged a mob of religious fanatics to rough up members of this community and rob their houses in broad daylight.

These grand uncles of Islam usually score such victories against this hapless community and the real reason for their grand victory is that Ahmedis have — despite facing what has to be the worst persecution in our times — remained a law abiding and non-violent community. The state instead of recognising the overwhelmingly positive role of this community has since the 1970s aided and abetted elements who have resorted to violence every chance they got.

One of the many reasons I admire Ahmedis is that despite facing the most horrible of persecutions, they are not given to mouthing fashionable views just for the heck of it in their drawing rooms as many others do. Despite having been let down by the state so many times, Ahmedis continue to stand up for Pakistan in a very substantial manner: intellectually, morally and in charity. Theirs is a deep connection to the state. Let us recognise this connection and let us celebrate it. Instead, we abuse them and paint them as enemies of the state.

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