Concern over Pakistan religious violence

A mob attacked the Ahmadi place of worship

By Susannah Price in Islamabad

There has been condemnation by human-rights activists of the killing of 10 members of the minority Ahmadi community in Pakistan.

In the first incident, gunmen opened fire on community members and in the second a mob attacked their place of worship.

The Ahmadis were declared non-Muslims in 1974.

Human-rights groups have called on Pakistan's government to act immediately to stop the wave of violence against the minority Ahmadi community.

At the end of last month, five Ahmadis were killed by unidentified gunmen near Sialkot in Punjab province, and on Friday a mob attacked the Ahmadis place of worship in a remote village, killing five people inside.

Local police said the leader of an anti-Ahmadi procession had been beaten up by the Ahmadis before the mob carried out the attack.

Amnesty call

The international human rights group, Amnesty International, called for the government to make it clear such violence would not be tolerated.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also warned that unless those responsible for the violence were stopped, more lives would be lost.

Pakistan's military leader, General Musharraf, has emphasised his commitment to protecting minorities in the country.

Ahmadis were declared non-Muslims on the grounds that they believe Mohammed may not be the last Prophet, and many have been charged with religious offences and blasphemy since then.

Amnesty International said police investigations into the killings of 20 Ahmadis over the past seven years had been very slow or non-existent.