Members of the Ahmadiyya community have alleged that local police in Sindh's Badin district attempted to prevent them from conducting funeral and mourning rites following the death of an Ahmadi resident, raising concerns about religious freedom and minority rights.
According to a statement issued by the Ahmadiyya community, Shamsuddin Gargiz, an Ahmadi resident of Tando Bago's Khuda Abad area in Badin district, passed away on Saturday, 6 June 2026. His body was brought from Khuda Abad Hospital to his village at approximately 9:30 pm.
The community claims that at around 10:45 pm, Station House Officer (SHO) Ghulam Haider Panhwar arrived in the village, accompanied by a police mobile unit and allegedly pressured local Ahmadis not to hold funeral prayers or observe the customary three-day mourning period. According to the statement, the officer informed community members that local clerics opposed to Ahmadis were exerting pressure on the police to prevent such activities.
Community representatives said they refused to comply with what they described as unlawful demands, arguing that the restrictions would violate their constitutional and fundamental rights. Following the exchange, the police reportedly left the village without further action.
The incident follows a similar case in the same area. The Ahmadiyya community stated that when another Ahmadi resident, Muhammad Khan, died on 16 May 2026, police allegedly dismantled tents erected for condolence visitors after receiving complaints from opponents who claimed the arrangements caused them offence.
Describing both incidents as deeply troubling, the Ahmadiyya community said they represented a serious challenge to Sindh's long-standing tradition of tolerance and coexistence. The community criticised what it called the inappropriate, unlawful and unethical conduct of police officers, accusing them of acting under pressure from extremist elements.
"The primary responsibility of state institutions is to protect the constitutional rights of every citizen, not to use their authority to appease individuals and groups that promote division and hatred within society," the statement said.
The community also appealed to human rights activists, particularly those based in Sindh, to speak out against such incidents and work towards eliminating religious extremism and discrimination across the province and the country as a whole.
There was no immediate response from the police regarding the allegations.