September 11, 2008	Thursday	Ramazan 10, 1429

LAHORE, Sept 10: Taking a serious view of the killing of two Ahmedis in Sindh and instigation to murder in a TV programme, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called for an urgent action to protect the minorities’ lives and to ensure stoppage of hate-preaching through the media.

In a press statement on Wednesday, the HRCP said an eminent Ahmedi physician and cardiologist was shot dead in Mirpurkhas, while another prominent Ahmedi was killed in Nawabshah.

The Ahmedi community believes there is a link between these brutal killings and a programme telecast by a private television channel in which a cleric called for death to Ahmedis and the anchor concurred.

Even if there is no direct link between incitement to violence on television and the two murders neither of the offences can be tolerated.

The Ahmedi community is within its legal rights to demand protection against instigators of violence against them.

The government must ensure that the killers of the Ahmedi citizens are brought to justice and that nobody is allowed to use the media, especially the electronic one, to preach communal hatred and fratricide.

The TV channel also has a duty to rein in irresponsible anchor. Failure to do so will confirm its complicity in a heinous crime.