Ahmadi worship place built by Zafarullah Khan demolished in Sialkot

SIALKOT: A historic place of worship of the Ahmadiyya community, built before the partition by Sir Zafarullah Khan, was demolished overnight in Sialkot’s Daska city.

According to the details, the local administration on January 16 demolished the worship place terming it an encroachment under the Punjab Local Government Act.

In a statement issued on X, the Jama’at Ahmadiyya Pakistan described the action as a heinous crime and accused the local authorities of an orchestrated attack on the community’s properties.

The worship place was built by Zafarullah Khan, an Ahmadi by faith, before the partition of the subcontinent in his native town of Dask. The local Ahmadiyya community highlighted the place as a significant historical site.

Khan served as Pakistan’s first foreign minister from 1947 to 1954 and is also the only Pakistani to preside over the International Court of Justice. He also served as the President of the UN General Assembly.

The community members confirmed that they received the notice two days earlier against the illegal extension of the structure by 13 feet. They said that efforts were made to comply with the notice by removing the marked 13 feet on Jan 15.

Aamir Mahmood, the community spokesperson, said despite the cooperation, Daska Assistant Commis­sioner Maham Mushtaq headed the demolition operation later that evening.

In a statement, the spokesperson said this incident follows a pattern of persecution, adding that at least 22 Ahmadiyya places of worship were demolished across Punjab last year.