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Union Council Chairman Among Six Identified in Karachi’s Lynching of Ahmadi Man
TLP-affiliated Union Council chairman among six suspects identified in the tragic lynching of Ahmadi businessman Laeeq Ahmad Cheema in Karachi. The incident has sparked national outrage.
ND
by News Desk
2025-04-19
Union Council Chairman Among Six Identified in Karachi’s Lynching of Ahmadi Man

A 46-year-old businessman, was brutally beaten to death by a mob of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) supporters in Karachi’s Saddar area on Friday. The attack occurred when hundreds of TLP workers stormed an Ahmadiyya place of worship to prevent the community from observing religious rituals.

The incident took place near the auto parts market when Cheema was allegedly recording a video of the violent mob. After the brutal assault, he was taken to the Civil Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Identifying the Suspects:

According to South Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Syed Asad Raza, six suspects involved in the attack have been identified through CCTV footage. Among the suspects is a Union Council (UC) chairman affiliated with TLP, who had contested and won elections in Kharadar on a TLP ticket. The other suspects are linked to a previous vandalism case in 2023.

DIG Raza stated that the police were conducting raids to apprehend the identified suspects and added that further leads would be sought through video analysis.

Mob's Brutality and Aftermath:

According to police reports, around 45-50 Ahmadis were gathered at the worship place when the mob surrounded them. Preedy Police Station House Officer (SHO) Shabbir Husain revealed that the police had to call for a prison van to shift the worshippers to a safer location. Cheema, who was reportedly the only witness to the previous TLP vandalism case, was brutally attacked, sustaining blunt force trauma to his head, which ultimately led to his death.

The police surgeon, Dr. Summaiya Syed, confirmed that the cause of death was the severe injuries sustained to Cheema’s head, leading to fractures and bleeding.

Human Rights Condemnation:

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) strongly condemned the lynching, describing it as a failure of law and order and highlighting the complicity of the state in the ongoing persecution of religious minorities. The commission demanded that the perpetrators be swiftly arrested and prosecuted without yielding to any far-right pressure.

The HRCP also expressed concern over the rising trend of mob violence against religious minorities, including the Ahmadiyya community, and the increasing weaponisation of blasphemy laws against them.

In its recent report, the HRCP noted that over 750 people are currently imprisoned under blasphemy charges, and that religious minorities, particularly Ahmadis, have been subjected to increasing persecution, including forced conversions and desecration of graves.

Ongoing Investigations and Calls for Accountability:

As investigations continue, police are urging the family of the deceased to register a first information report (FIR). Human rights advocates are calling for swift action to ensure justice is served, while urging authorities to prevent further escalation of religious intolerance in the country.

 
Tagged:

TLP

KarachiLynching

AhmadiyyaRights

ReligiousPersecution
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