1953 Lahore riots

The Lahore riots of 1953 were a series of violent riots against the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, an Islamic sect, mainly in the city of Lahore, Pakistan as well as the rest of Punjab, which were eventually quelled by the Pakistan Army who declared three months of martial law. The demonstrations began in February 1953, soon escalating into citywide incidents, including looting, arson and the murder of somewhere between 200 and 2000 Ahmadis, while thousands more were left displaced. Unable to contain the increasingly widespread civil disorder, Governor-General Ghulam Muhammad handed over the administration of the city to the army under Lieutenant General Azam Khan, imposing martial law on March 6.

Background and causes

One of the major controversial differences between Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and mainstream Sunni and Shia Muslims is their different interpretations of Khatam an-Nabiyyin. Sunni and Shia Muslims are awaiting the coming of Mahdi and Second Coming of Jesus and rejected the claims of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad who Ahmadis believe to be the Promised Messiah and Mahdi. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was very vocal proponent of the Pakistan and were actively in the Muslim league and had strong relations with many prominent Muslim Leaguers and were opposite to Congress backed Majlis-e-Ahrar-ul-Islam. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, Ahmadis prospered and reached many high ranking Government and Military positions in Pakistan, due to an extremely high Literacy rate. Ahmadis held up stay as an important political force in Pakistan, due to its support for secularism and acted as a counterbalance Majlis-e-Ahrar-ul-Islam. This group was disillusioned and disorganized after 1947 and politically isolated. Although even before partition one of Majlis-e-Ahrar-ul-Islam's primary target was the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam. But in 1949, the movement launched countrywide campaigns and protests resulting in a ban on Majlis-e-Ahrar in 1954.

Demands and culmination

Disturbances began after an ultimatum was delivered to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on 21 January 1953 by a deputation of ulama representing Majlis-i Amal (council of action) constituted by an All-Pakistan Muslim Parties Convention held in Karachi from 16 to 18 January 1953. (Including Tehreek-e-Khatme Nabuwwat — under Majlis-e-Ahrar-ul-Islam) The ultimatum stated unless three demands were met:

• Removal of Zafarullah Khan from the foreign ministry;
• Removal of Ahmadis from top government offices;
• Declaration of Ahmadis as non-Muslims.

... Majlis-e-Amal would resort to direct action (rast iqdum).

Disturbances and aftermath

The ultimatum was rejected and disturbances commenced.

On March 6 martial law was declared. Two people were killed by police prior to martial law and casualties "admitted by the military" caused in "quelling the disturbances in Lahore" were eleven killed and 49 wounded.

Marking the military's first foray into civilian politics, the 70-day-long military deployment saw Lahore return to normalcy under Azam Khan's coherent leadership ; the Secretary General of the Awami Muslim League, Maulana Abdul Sattar Khan Niazi, was arrested and sentenced to death, but his sentence was subsequently commuted. The riots also brought unprecedented political consequences; Ghulam Muhammad first dismissed Mian Mumtaz Daultana from the post of Chief Minister of Punjab on March 24, allegedly for manipulating the religious element in anti-Ahmadi violence for political benefits. Next on April 17, using his special powers under the Government of India Act 1935, Ghulam Muhammad dimissed Prime Minister, Khwaja Nazimuddin and the entire federal cabinet. Muhammad Ali Bogra (Pakistan's ambassador to the United States) replaced him. Bogra, who did not know why he was being called back, took the oath as new Prime Minister within hours of Nazimuddin's dismissal.

On 19 June 1953 a Court Of Inquiry was established to look into disturbances, known as the Punjab Disturbances Court Of Inquiry. The inquiry commenced on 1 July and held 117 sittings. The evidence was concluded on 23 January 1954 and arguments in the case lasted to 28 February 1954. Conclusions were formulated and the report issued 10 April 1954.

Timeline

• Jan After the convention of the All Pakistan Muslim League at Dhaka, anti-Ahmadiyya elements threatened to take direct action after 22nd Feb. 1953, if their demands were not met.
• Feb 01 - Burial of an Ahmadi was resisted by anti-Ahmadiyya elements in Sargodha.
• Feb 23 - Anti-Ahmadiyya riots broke out in West Pakistan specially in Punjab Province.
• Feb 27 - Publication of Alfazal, a publication of the Ahmadiyya community, published from Lahore, was banned by the Government for one year. The vacuum was filled by the publication of Farooq. The first issue of Farooq was published on 4 March but after the second issue, it was forced to stop publication on 11 March.
• Mar 05 - Master Manzoor Ahmed, a teacher was killed in Baghbanpura, Lahore.
• Mar 06 - Ahmadiyya Noor Mosque, Rawalpindi was attacked and set on fire by a mob.
  • Press belonging to an Ahmadi was burnt.
• Many shops and houses belonging to Ahmadis and the President of Jamaat Ahmadiyya, Rawalpindi were ransacked.
• Mar 06 - Countrywide riots including torture, murder attempts and arson started against the Ahmadiyya especially in Lahore.
• Mar 06 - Martial law was declared in Lahore
• Mar 08 - Havaldar Abdul Ghafoor and another Ahmadi perfumer were killed in Lahore.
• Mar 12 - Additional Magistrate Jhang prohibited the Supreme Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community from commenting on anti-Ahmadiyya riots and the anti-Ahmadiyya movement.
• Apr 01 - Mirza Shareef Ahmad and Mirza Nasir Ahmad were arrested in Lahore during the riots. They were released on 28 May.
  • Superintendent of Police Jhang searched Qasre Khilafat and the central offices of Sadar Anjuman Ahmadiyya, Chenab Nagar.
  • Nazir Tableegh was arrested.
• May 7 - Martial law authorities passed the death sentence on Maulana Abdus Sattar Niazi.
• May 11 - Martial Law authorities passed the death sentence on Abul Ala Maududi for writing Qadyani Masla, and certain press *statements delivered in February and March.
• May 13 - Maududi's and Niazi's death sentences were changed to life sentences.
• May 14 - Martial law was lifted.