On 18 April 2025, Laeeq Ahmad Cheema, a 46-year-old member of the Ahmadiyya community, was brutally lynched by a mob in Karachi, Pakistan. The mob, reportedly affiliated with the far-right Islamist group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), had gathered outside the Ahmadi place of worship, chanting anti-Ahmadi slogans and attempting to damage the premises. Cheema, who was approximately 150 meters away from the hall, was identified by members of the mob and attacked with sticks and bricks. He succumbed to his injuries before receiving medical treatment. Following Cheema’s killing, law enforcement agencies identified six suspects, including a Union Council chairman linked to TLP, through CCTV footage. However, the broader state response has been criticized as slow and inadequate. Human rights organizations, including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, have strongly condemned the incident, characterizing it as a grave failure of law and order and reflective of a broader pattern of systematic repression against religious minorities in Pakistan.
The lynching of Laeeq Ahmad Cheema is not an isolated event. At the heart of the violence is the persistent and systematic persecution of the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan. Self-identifying as Muslims but declared non-Muslims under the 1974 constitutional amendment and criminalized in their religious practice under Ordinance XX of 1984, Ahmadis face entrenched legal discrimination that enables societal hostility and emboldens extremist groups like TLP. Regular protests, hate campaigns, and targeted violence against Ahmadis are common, creating a climate where attacks are normalized and perpetrators often enjoy impunity. The targeted attacks on the Ahmadiyya community exemplify a deepening crisis of religious intolerance and state complicity.
The lynching of Laeeq Ahmad Cheema has a profoundly negative impact on the enabling environment for civil society, religious freedom, and human rights in Pakistan. This incident has heightened fear and insecurity among religious minorities, particularly the Ahmadiyya community, discouraging their participation in public life, religious gatherings, and advocacy efforts. Civil society organizations working on minority rights and religious freedom now face greater threats, surveillance, and harassment, making their operations even more restricted and risky. Human rights defenders are also experiencing a chilling effect, with growing fears of reprisal for speaking out against religious discrimination or state inaction. There is also a strong risk of increased misuse of blasphemy laws and hate speech to target not only Ahmadis but also broader civil society voices advocating for human rights and tolerance.
The state’s failure to prevent or promptly address mob violence emboldens extremist groups and normalizes impunity. Unless addressed urgently, this event signals a dangerous future where extremism strengthens. Advocacy efforts should focus on demanding an independent investigation into the incident, ensuring the prosecution of both the attackers and those who incited the violence, and holding law enforcement accountable for their inaction. Legal reforms must be prioritized, particularly the repeal of discriminatory laws such as Ordinance XX and the strengthening of protection mechanisms for religious minorities. Public awareness campaigns should aim to humanize Ahmadis and expose networks that propagate hate speech, while international advocacy should engage UN bodies and leverage Pakistan’s obligations under international human rights treaties.