Ahmadiyya Community Voices Concern Over Eid‑Season Harassment in Karachi

Karachi – Just days before the festive Eid prayers, the Ahmadiyya community in several neighborhoods of Pakistan’s sprawling metropolis says it is living under a cloud of intimidation. From shouted slurs on street corners to graffiti scrawled on mosque walls, the reports are as varied as they are unsettling.

“We have always celebrated Eid together, as we do every year,” says Saeed Ali, a local shop owner in the Gulshan‑e‑Iqbal area. “But this year, it feels different. Yesterday, someone knocked on my shop door, shouted hateful slogans, and left a small bottle of ink that stained the floor. It’s a simple act, yet it leaves a deep scar.”

According to community leaders, the incidents began roughly a week after the announcement of the official holiday dates. What started as isolated verbal taunts quickly escalated into more overt acts – broken windows, graffiti that reads “Deport them,” and, in one alarming case, a locked vehicle was set on fire outside a community centre.

Human rights activists, who have been monitoring sectarian tensions in the city, note that the Ahmadiyya community has long been a target of discrimination under Pakistan’s blasphemy and anti‑Ahmadiyya laws. While the legal framework limits their religious freedoms, many families still try to lead normal lives, hoping that the holidays will bring a temporary reprieve.

“Eid is supposed to be a time of joy, forgiveness, and unity,” says Imam Khalid Mahmood of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat in Saddar. “Instead, we are living in fear that someone might vandalize our homes or threaten our children. It’s heartbreaking.”

Local police have acknowledged receiving a handful of complaints, but residents claim that response times have been slow and investigations inconclusive. “We called the police twice, but the officer who arrived seemed uninterested,” Saeed adds, his voice tinged with frustration. “It feels like we are being told to just endure it.”

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Ahmadiyya community appealed to the Sindh provincial government for immediate protective measures. They asked for increased patrols around places of worship, swift action against perpetrators, and a public condemnation of the harassment by senior officials.

Legal experts warn that without decisive intervention, the situation could set a dangerous precedent. “When minority communities are left vulnerable during high‑profile events, it emboldens extremist elements,” explains Dr. Nadia Rahman, a constitutional law scholar at the University of Karachi. “The state has an obligation to ensure safety for all citizens, regardless of creed.”

Meanwhile, ordinary residents continue to prepare for the celebrations. Women in the bustling markets of Jinnah Road are selecting new outfits, children are practicing the call to prayer, and families are arranging the traditional feast of biryani and sweets. Yet, the lingering anxiety is palpable.

“We want to pray, to hug our relatives, to enjoy the morning prayers at the mosque,” says Fatima, a university student. “But we also keep an eye on the street, hoping nothing bad happens.”

Community organisations have begun organizing self‑defence workshops and awareness sessions, hoping to empower members and deter potential aggressors. The efforts, while commendable, are a reminder that civil protection cannot be left to the citizens alone.

International observers, including the United Nations’ office on religious freedom, have called for a transparent investigation and the enforcement of Pakistan’s constitutional guarantee of equality before the law. They stress that the upcoming Eid period should serve as a moment of unity, not division.

As the moon is expected to be sighted tomorrow, marking the start of Eid‑al‑Fitr, many in the Ahmadiyya community are holding their breath, hoping that the celebrations will proceed without further incidents. Their wish is simple: to pray in peace, share meals with loved ones, and feel safe in their own neighborhoods once again.