Source/Credit: AHRC / Ahmadiyya Times
Pakistan: Publisher’s life threatened for publishing autobiography of a retired Ahmadi judge
The leader of the group, infamous extremist, Muawiyya, is the brother of mullah Tahir Ashrafi, chairman, Pakistan Clerics’ Council and 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 brother 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 allow 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 had dispersed.
