POLICE RAID OF THE OFFICES OF THE AHMADIYYA MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN RABWAH, PAKISTAN

That this House expresses concern over the raid of the offices of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Rabwah, Pakistan by the Counter-Terrorism Department of the Punjab Police on 5 December 2016; notes that four Ahmadis were arrested during the raid, and that they were office workers affiliated with the Ahmadiyya community's magazine, Tehrik-e-Jadid; further notes that the printing press used to publish the magazine and the daily newspaper Al Fazl was sealed; welcomes the position of the US State Department that it is very concerned about these reports that Punjab counterterrorism police have raided the international headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Rabwah and that laws that restrict peaceful religious expression, particularly by the Ahmadiyya community, are inconsistent with Pakistan's international obligations; understands that Ahmadi communities are a marginalised minority in Pakistan and face persecution because of their faith; acknowledges that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a peaceful strand of Islam, with its UK community abiding by the motto Love for All, Hatred For None; and on a cross-party basis calls on the Government to use its diplomatic channels to make representations to the Pakistani authorities regarding this incident.