Lahore unrest of 1953 - violence against the Ahmadiyya movement in the city of Lahore , which were suppressed by the Pakistani army. The demonstration began around February, and soon turned into city-wide cases of murder, robbery and arson against Ahmadiyeh. The attacks were provoked by the political party Jamaat-e-Islami led by Abu'l-Ala Maududi , a Sunni theologian and critic of the movement. Not wanting greater spread of civil unrest, Governor General Ghulam Muhammad handed over the administration in the city to Lieutenant General Azam Khan and imposed martial law on March 6.
| Lahore unrest Lahore riots | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Badshahi Mosque | |||
| date | February 1953 - May 14, 1953 | ||
| A place | Lahore , Pakistan | ||
| Total | Military riot suppression | ||
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The governor-general saw a return to normal life in Lahore under the coherent leadership of Azam Khan. The alleged agitator of the Maududi riots and the then-Secretary General of the Muslim League of Awami, Maulana Abdul Sattar Khan Niyazi, were arrested and sentenced to death, but their sentences were later reduced. The unrest also brought enormous political consequences; Ghulam Muhammad first dismissed Miann Mumtaz Daultan from his post as chief minister of Punjab in March, before the entire cabinet of the country's first prime minister, Havadj Nazimuddin , was dismissed on April 17 and Muhammad Ali Bograh was appointed instead.
Timeline
- January - after the All-Pakistan Muslim League congress in Dhaka, anti-Ahmadi elements threatened to take direct action after February 22, 1953, if their demands (to declare Ahmadiyah a non-Muslim movement) would not be fulfilled.
- February 1 - anti-Ahmadi elements opposed the burial of the Ahmadian in Sargodha
- February 23 - Anti-Ahmadi riots break out in Western Pakistan, especially in the province of Punjab.
- February 27 - The publication of the daily newspaper Alfazal is banned by the government for a period of one year.
- March 5 - Mansur Ahmed, a teacher was killed in the Baghanpur district of Lahore.
- March 6 - Akhmadiyan Nur mosque in Rawalpindi was attacked and set on fire.
- ... The press belonging to Ahmadiye was burned.
- ... Many shops and houses belonging to Ahmadiye and President Jamaat Ahmadiye in Rawalpindi were looted.
- ... The press belonging to Ahmadiye was burned.
- March 6 - Mass riots began throughout the country, including torture, assassination and arson attacks against the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, especially in Lahore.
- March 8 - Ahmadis Abdul Ghafoor and an unknown perfumer were killed in Lahore.
- March 12 - The Jang Magistrate prohibits the Supreme Head of the Muslim community of Ahmadi to comment on anti-Ahmadi riots and anti-Ahmadi movements.
- March 24 - The Chief Minister of Punjab Daultan resigned from his post at the request of Prime Minister Nazimuddin and Gulama Muhammad. He was suspected of being sponsored by the anti-Ahmadi movement to achieve his own political goals.
- April 1 - Hazrat Mirza Sharif Sahibzada Ahmad and Hazrat Mirza Sahibzada Nasir Ahmad were arrested in Lahore during the riots. They were released on May 28th.
- ... Police Chief Jung found the central offices of Sadar Anjman Ahmadiya in Rabah.
- ... Hazrat Said Zaynula Abidin Wali Allah Shah, Nazir Tablik was arrested.
- ... Police Chief Jung found the central offices of Sadar Anjman Ahmadiya in Rabah.
- April 17 - using his special powers in India Act of 1935, Governor General Ghulam Muhammad dismissed Prime Minister Hawaja Nazimuddin. “I urge the people of Pakistan to stand firm and be united,” Ghulam Mohammad states in his address to the people “in their determination to see that their needs are adequately served through a government that fully enjoys the confidence of the country.”
- May 7, Lahore - law enforcement authorities sentenced Abdul Sattar Khan Niazi to death.
- May 11, Lahore - law enforcement authorities have imposed a death sentence on another riot organizer, Abbul Ala Mawladi.
- May 13, Lahore - Maududi and Niyazi's death sentences are changed to life sentences.
- May 14 - the riots stopped.