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.
This incident only goes on to confirm my belief that all religions should be banned from all public institutions and public. Where religion comes in, humanity and compassion goes out of window.
Religion — any and of all kinds – is just another form of superstition and ignorance. It justifies discrimination and subjugation of people. A religion readily attributes a (false) sense of self-righteousness to its adherents, often resulting in violence and bloodshed. We, in Pakistan, don
Hai, kya ya loog bewaqoofi say islam to sambhal sakain gay.
Kash koi in kay uksanai waloon to sarai aam jotai mar sakai, laikan afsoos hamarai rakhwaloon nay choorian pehan rakhi hain. Pakistan is govenment nay choorian pehan rakhi Hain.
Aur hoo skta hai kay surkhi bhe laga rakhi hai.
Sharam Sharam in loogon pay afsoos
It
Mustafa, what nonsense are you talking about (this think about other religions are not allowed to preach because we are a Muslim country)
Have you read the Constitution of Pakistan (see second comment on this thread). Or the Quran!!!!
What you are proposing would be against both!!!!
And, please don’t make up things. Can you please list for me which countries have “banned” building of mosques? Please do, otherwise don’t spread lies.
I think it will be a disgrace on the pakistani government if they do not take an action to this outrageous act by the principal of this college.
If thats the case, why dont they just expel these people from the nation? whats the point of having them in the nation when they dont give them the right to practice their faith, to preach, even as to greet someone in an islamic manner, and now to basic education. Wont that be better for these people and the nation as well, such that the mullahs they support or are succumbed to will be happy.
I am sorry to say but its a disgraceful nation.