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.
I do not blam Jamiat for what they did because that’s what they are good for. I don’t like when people call them Mullah’s because in my view they have nothing to do with Islam. They don’t hesitate beating up and even killing other people regardless of their religion. Imran Khan is an example and another time when I was in the University a fight broke out between Jamiat and other student organization (which were all muslims) and they (Jamiat) ended up killing the head of other student organization, and so university was closed for several weeks. In my views they are group of thugs set lose in our institutions.
I hold only college principal responsible at first and then Government of Pakistan that why they haven’t fired the principal yet or atleast started the investigation. This is no small matter it is a matter of 23 students future.
I hope that these student will take their case to court asap and then after its ruling we should comment if Justice is still possible in Pakistan.
AoA!
This is really sad news and we should condemn it. No matter what ever one’s religious affiliation is, he/she shouldn’t be treated like this at all. I also agree with the comment that the so called lion CM of Punjab would dare do any thing against it…
Regards,
@jusathot: There are good laws and there are bad laws. Laws that enforce slavery of any kind whether based on colour or on religion are bad laws. There is general consensus among the majority of world population on this.
After reading some of the posts I am afraid similar events may occur on other campuses as well – JI capable of spreading this fire all over the country.
I also suggest moderating posts that advocate hate and violence
God help us all.
Ibrahim,
I am afraid you seem to be much weird and ignorant…
You said that the rights of the minorities are well protected in Pakistan!!!!!!!!!!!.
How do you justify the act of Bullying, Detaining, Beating, Looting, Killing, Depriving the rite of education of the minorities??
Do you think their rights are protected?
Is that what Islam teaches you?
Are you saying that the posters that Jamaat-e-Islami put on walls showing and insulting the believed Reformer of the age (Imam-e-Mahdi) of Ahmadis is fine? Religion teaches tolerance and not to give bad names to any one and to respect ones religious leaders. Why did the Jamaat-e-Islami put up posters which were to defame Ahmadiyyat and insult their respected religious leader?
If they were right then why did the Muslims all over the world react to the cartoons of Hazrat Muhammad (saww) made by Denmark which was a non-Muslim country. The protest was because we love the Prophet Muhammad (saww) and hold him dearer to our lives. Similarly as Ahmadis, we also have a deep love for the Holy Prophet (saww) and his Imam-e-Mahdi of the time [Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (AS)].
Its very bad an un Islamic to twist the sides by saying this is an Islamic country and could do what ever it wants. Being an Islamic country should mean to protect and safe guard the rights of minorities more that what the west does and set up examples for them rather then doing actions that declare us terrorists. Don