Atif Mian
On Thursday, June 5th, the principal of Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, expelled every student who belonged to the Ahmadi community from the college.
A total of twenty three students, fifteen female and eight male, across the five years of medical school have been expelled as a result. Further details regarding the incident can also be found in reports from the BBC and from the Daily Times.
The Ahmadi students were “accused” of preaching their religious beliefs. The principal was pressured into expelling the entire Ahmadi student body by a mob of protesters belonging to Islami Jamiat e Talaba. The mob circled the Principal’s office and demanded the expulsions. The same day, a mob of about 300 college students also barged into Ahmadi students’ rooms, beat them and threw their luggage out of their rooms.
What makes this incident especially troubling is the fact that the decision to expel Ahmadi students was taken by a government-run medical school, under full knowledge of the relevant Punjab ministries.
As an academic, and a Pakistani, I am totally appalled by this latest incidence of religious fanaticism. One hopes that the present Punjab government turns a page, and instead of supporting the forces of extremism, comes to the protection of its ordinary citizens.
Atif Mian is Associate Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business.
You can visit ATP on your Mobile Phone. Here's how!
Abdul hafeez pirzada, bhutto’s law minister, proved himself to be a poor constitutional lawyer when he argued in 1974 that the national assembly was completely sovereign.
The correct position was that of Sir Zafrullah Khan who said it was beyond the scope of the national assembly under the 1973 constitution to make such a decision.
Ahmadis at the time of the promulgation of the constitution were legitimate established sect of Islam and the constitutional provisions dealing with Islam clearly said that Islam could only be interpretted according to each sect.
Therefore the second amendment is itself illegal and in violation of the constitution of 1973.
Ayaz,
Yes christians are and there are new churches in Pakistan constructed every now and then.
It would be unconstitutional to deny them this right.
Similarly Ahmadis do make their mosques but they are asked to make it clear that the mosque is an ahmadi place of worship…
it is quite distasteful really.
I was getting tired of everyone agreeing with everyone else on this blog and repeating each other 150 times on this post alone. I am glad someone from PMC showed up to defend what happened to the students. And now we can have an actual discussion and hopefully get people thinking.
Dear all,
When I wrote this blog, I was not sure how Pakistanis at large will receive it. I am very glad to see an overwhelming anger against this injustice. But what is most impressive is that many Pakistanis took it upon themselves to take real action - doctors, alumni associations, other ex-pats… - many have lobbied to get this injustice reversed. I have personally heard some of these stories. And most of them are NOT Ahmadies - this is the true pakistaniat that we should all aspire towards.
@ayesha fazal
if today I annouce that you are NOT a Muslim, and have no right to live a life of an ideal/normal muslim. will you stop believing in Islam and stop acting as one??? will your heart turn in a few hours or a few years??/ will u stop calling yourself a Muslim, coz just some random ppl annoucned u as a non-muslim???
just think what would be your situtation if all this was happening with you and your family. Just once think like that!!!
as for the students, I dont think it is safe for them to still study in such a college. its not safe for them. and i think that the suspension is also not right. when they have not done anything then why suspend them???
got a question..
Are Christians allowed to construct a new church anywhere in Pakistan
ayesha fazal says:
“correction =they do agree they enrolled as muslim students”
What do you mean enrolled as Muslim students? Were they enrolling in a religious seminary that it matters what religion they are? Unless you are saying that PMC carries out religious profiling during enrolment process. If that is the case then the obvious objection is…why is PMC so interested in a candidate’s religion unless it wishes to discriminate based on their religion? If this is the case then this does not fare well on PMC.
Can you explain what is this religion business during enrolment process and why is it carried out because if PMC is carrying out institutionalised discrimination on religious grounds then this is one more against PMC and in favour of Ahmadis.
Probably something the General Medical Council in UK should be notified about.
Neutral outsider,
Ironically it was Bhutto who brought the amendment.