Over 100 booked under Anti-Terrorism Act for setting ablaze Ahmadi worship place in Pakistan

Over 100 people have been booked under the Anti-Terrorism Act for setting ablaze a worship place of the minority Ahmadi community in Pakistan's Punjab province, police said today.

The incident took place yesterday in Faisalabad district of Punjab when a man belonging to Ahmadi community allegedly kicked a hen belonging to a Muslim man triggering a quarrel between the duo, according to the FIR.

Soon after the incident there was announcement from the mosques that an Ahmadi person has committed blasphemy.

On this a large number of people besieged the Ahmadi worship place -- Baitul Zikar -- in the area. Some of them carrying weapons opened fired.

The inmates also returned the fire and in the exchange over 12 people sustained bullet injuries.

The injured, mostly the Ahmadis, were shifted to different hospitals. Condition of five of them are said to be critical.

The mob later set the Ahmadi worship place on fire before the police reached and controlled the situation.

Police have arrested some of the nominated suspects and booked over 100 under Anti-Terrorism Act and other charges, senior police officer Ghulam Mahmood Dogar said.

"Situation is now under control as heavy contingent of police has been deployed at the houses and worship places of Ahmadis," he said.

The incident is the latest sectarian attack on the Ahmadis in Pakistan.

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan spokesperson Saleemuddin said in a statement that a religious organisation on the pretext of a minor issue exploited the religious sentiments of the Ahmadi community.

"In fact the extremist elements wanted to destroy Ahmadi worship place and they succeeded in their design," he said.

He demanded stern action against those involved in torching of Ahmadi's worship place.