The authorities seem unable to resist the pressure and threats of the extremist organization Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan.
by Massimo Introvigne
“Bitter Winter” devoted a series of seven articles to Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), a violent political-religious Islamic organization that Pakistani authorities try unsuccessfully to contain, more often than not surrendering to its pressure. This is especially true when TLP threatens or demands action against the persecuted Ahmadiyya community.
In February three incidents happened in Punjab within ten days.
On February 11 in Lubbay, Sialkot district, police demolished the niche of an Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosque after detaining the local Ahmadiyya president. Community members had refused to carry out the act themselves.
On February 20, at 12:00 PM, as captured on the first video, a group associated with Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) entered Throoh Mandi, Pasrur tehsil, Sialkot district. The mob destroyed the minarets and arch of the local Ahmadiyya mosque, shouting slogans against the Ahmadis. Law enforcement officers were present but did not intervene. TLP members threatened to return to destroy the Ahmadi graveyard.
Mob action in Throoh Mandi. From X. https://x.com/i/status/1894103805211340890.
At Chak No. 20NP, district Rahim Yar Khan, TLP told the authorities that they should demolish the minarets of the Ahmadi mosque by February 23, failing which TLP would carry out the destruction itself. The authorities contacted the Ahmadiyya Community and told them that they would prevent any violent action. However on February 22 the same authorities, intimidated by TLP, directly demolished the minaret and niche of the Ahmadi mosque, as shown in Video 2.
Ahmadi mosque vandalized in Rahim Yar Khan. From X. https://x.com/i/status/1894135488761544814
These incidents show that Pakistani authorities, unable to resist TLP pressure, are now actively supporting religious persecution. Extremist groups are shaping policy, and fundamental rights of religious minorities are being systematically dismantled, raising serious concerns about freedom of religion or belief in the country.
Massimo Introvigne (born June 14, 1955 in Rome) is an Italian sociologist of religions. He is the founder and managing director of the Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR), an international network of scholars who study new religious movements. Introvigne is the author of some 70 books and more than 100 articles in the field of sociology of religion. He was the main author of the Enciclopedia delle religioni in Italia (Encyclopedia of Religions in Italy). He is a member of the editorial board for the Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion and of the executive board of University of California Press’ Nova Religio. From January 5 to December 31, 2011, he has served as the “Representative on combating racism, xenophobia and discrimination, with a special focus on discrimination against Christians and members of other religions” of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). From 2012 to 2015 he served as chairperson of the Observatory of Religious Liberty, instituted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to monitor problems of religious liberty on a worldwide scale.
