Bhoiwal, District Sheikhupura; January 14, 2022: The three Ahmadis, Messrs. Ehsan Ahmad, Mubashir Ahmad and Ghulam Ahmad were released after completing their reduced sentence.
A contrived case was registered against four Ahmadis under PPC 295-A on May 13, 2014 at Police Station Sharqpur accusing them of tearing an anti-Ahmadi poster from the wall of a local shop in their village. Although the local Panchayat intervened and settled the issue, the mullas refused to make peace, held a demonstration and insisted that the police register a case against the accused. The police did that under PPC 295-A etc, and arrested one, Mr. Khalil Ahmad.
Couple of days thereafter, one Saleem Ahmad entered the police station and shot dead Mr. Khalil Ahmad who was under detention. Mr. Ahmad left behind a widow, two sons and two daughters.
The remaining three were arrested two months later, on July 18, 2014. A year thereafter, Section 295-C was added to their charge sheet on judicial orders. They were sentenced to death on October 11, 2017. An appeal was then made before the Lahore High Court.
Recently a DB comprising of LHC judges Justice Abdul Aziz and M Amjad Rafiq heard the case, and gave verdict that PPC 295-C be vacated, and sentenced them to 10 years’ imprisonment and fine of Rs 500,000/- each.
Allowing for relief provided on various occasions to all prisoners, these accused had overstayed their sentence, so they were released from prison.
Ten years ago the well-known weekly The Friday Times published an op-ed by dauntless Yassar Latif Hamdani, titled: Do Ahmadis deserve to live in Pakistan?
