Shop owner held for putting up ‘hate notice’

E-Paper | April 30, 2026

LAHORE: Police claimed on Sunday to have arrested a suspect involved in putting up a notice against a religious minority group outside his shop in Gulberg.

According to a news release, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Dr Haider Ashraf took notice of the pasting of a poster outside a shop in Hafeez Centre declaring Ahmadis “infidels” and banning their entry in the shop.

The DIG directed the Model Town Division Superintendent of Police (SP) Mustansar Feroze to arrest the suspect. The SP constituted a police team led by Gulberg Station House Officer (SHO) Yousuf Butt.

SHO Butt conducted a raid on the shop and arrested the suspect identified as Abid Hashmi and registered a case under sections 295-A of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and 16 of the MPO against him.

The DIG said the National Action Plan (NAP) would be implemented at all costs and strict action taken against violators. He said no one would be allowed to post any hate material against any religious group.

The issue was brought to the DIG’s attention by people concerned with the contents of the poster. Under the NAP, police officials were directed to take action against any reported instances of hate speech and crime.

On Wednesday night, a photograph of the notice pasted outside the Hafeez Centre shop had gone viral on social media.

Also read: Police take down offensive anti-minority poster in Lahore after outrage

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2015

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

6 terrorists killed as attack on Bannu police post thwarted

Amid furore on social media, Cambridge says 'aware' of reports about question paper leak

Law ministry notifies transfer of 3 IHC judges to other high courts

Ali

Dec 14, 2015 08:20am

good work.

Recommend 0

Ivehadit

Dec 14, 2015 08:33am

Nice to see tolerance making an entry in Pakistan courtesy its civil society

Recommend 0

M Jamal

Dec 14, 2015 08:34am

As a tolerant society we all are against hate messages for any religious group.

Recommend 0

Tamza

Dec 14, 2015 08:35am

A better response would be that the public boycotts such stores,

Recommend 0

pak indian humanity

Dec 14, 2015 08:36am

Pakistan zindabad

Recommend 0

N K Ali

Dec 14, 2015 08:39am

Truly very, very shocking! What is the shop-owner thinking? Who does he associate with? Kudos to the persons who got concerned and brought it to the notice of the concerned authorities. As for the engine of NAP, don't you think it is running out of gas? Salams

Recommend 0

Baaligh

Dec 14, 2015 08:55am

Even if...repeat even if any one is considered as such even then why ban entry in shop ? Absolute nonsense.

Recommend 0

Zafar

Dec 14, 2015 09:00am

@Tamza Agree 100%. Can some social media savvy person take this up as a campaign? This will work as a deterrent like no other!

Recommend 0

MARXIST

Dec 14, 2015 09:01am

Well-done Police!!!

Recommend 0

Muhammad Jabar

Dec 14, 2015 09:02am

I'm Sunni and I love Ahmadis! Enough said no hate for no one! I love Pakistan!

Recommend 0

Ahsan

Dec 14, 2015 09:18am

We need to educate our people, what life's they are living, it's immoral its against religion and any civic norm, you just can't do these things. Don't teach your children hate and intolerance, please

Recommend 0

Kash

Dec 14, 2015 09:39am

@Tamza I was going to say that. We should not go to shops which are such haters

Recommend 0

Ajaya K Dutt

Dec 14, 2015 09:54am

Excellent.

Recommend 0

Irfan

Dec 14, 2015 09:57am

If he shop keeper wants to ban Ahemedis from entering his shop, I think, rest of Lahore should not buy anything from his shop. Lets see how he continues to hate people.

Recommend 0

Exlim

Dec 14, 2015 10:00am

Good initiative should be continued with diligence.

Recommend 0

analyses

Dec 14, 2015 10:20am

Great news. I saw that board one year ago when i visited Hafeez Center in Lahore. It was in fact placed outside the whole market containing 100 of mobile phone shops. Written in very large fonts that Ahmedis are not allowed to enter the mall. I was literally surprised and it seemed a norm. All concerned authorities and police must have seen that notice too for over a year and didn't do anything. Now since someone complained, police had to take actions according to NAP.

Recommend 0

Arif

Dec 14, 2015 10:21am

Good work of Police. Appreciated.

Recommend 0

Fawzia

Dec 14, 2015 10:22am

The only way forward is for people to become proactive in eliminating extremism. I applaud those who posted it on social media.

Recommend 0

bajwa

Dec 14, 2015 10:31am

good news

Recommend 0

Saeed

Dec 14, 2015 10:31am

Well done, DIG Ashraf Haider.

Recommend 0

Baber Gul

Dec 14, 2015 10:45am

Thank you Pakistan Govt and Police. At last we see a glimmer of hope in this land of ours. My appreciation for those who have put some super posts here so far. Love for all.

Recommend 0

Raminderjit Singh

Dec 14, 2015 11:06am

actually guys its nice to see that not even a single comment is intolerant.... hats of to you guys.... with people like you the future of country is sure to be prosperous.... we need to teach everyone to love everyone inspite of their religion... cause before they are ahmedi sunni shia hindu muslim jew sikh buddhist christian jain etc etc they are human first.... hats off to u guys.... great work

Recommend 0

Jalbani Baloch

Dec 14, 2015 11:08am

The scale of action with all seriousness must be extended to all those, who make the mockery of law even by throwing a stone or making jest. Law must be upheld at all costs and its compliance should be ensured at all levels.

Recommend 0

Dec 14, 2015 11:08am

All this was long over due, we people of Pakistan should stand united against those who r out there to preach hate against other faiths, Islam got nothing to do with this kinda hate, it's the mindset which need to be changed, a welcome sign to see people standing up for their fellow countrymen

Recommend 0

Sourabh

Dec 14, 2015 11:14am

Its really nice that Pakistani society is becoming tolerant. I must give a big congrats. Good incidents must be given due regard.

Recommend 0

Rainman

Dec 14, 2015 11:21am

Great to see pakistanis do not accept this behaviour from shop keeper boy cot of this shop is the best form of protest

Recommend 0

Tariq Amir

Dec 14, 2015 11:25am

Good step. There should be zero tolerance of intolerance.

Recommend 0

mashman

Dec 14, 2015 11:37am

Great work. Only with love we can over come hate.

Recommend 0

Shaukat Ali Khan

Dec 14, 2015 11:51am

Such elements must be given exemplary punishment.

Recommend 0

Tariq

Dec 14, 2015 12:10pm

Of my no fault, I born in an Ahmadi family in Pakistan. Few years ago I left the country forever mainly due to the reason of insecurity, hate and intolerance despite the fact I love my country and culture so much. But after going through all the comments I feel that Pakistan is changing and moving towards more egalitarian society. This is the way of progress and prosperity.

Recommend 0

Dec 14, 2015 12:13pm

Good job my Pakistani friends!

Recommend 0

Wiqas

Dec 14, 2015 12:28pm

A good job by police. Seems like we need to educate each other to improve the tolerance level.

Recommend 0

Khanzaaada

Dec 14, 2015 12:35pm

@Tariq bro, we failed as a society. I am Sunni but keep advocating case of Ahmadis where ever I get a chance to, but its really unfortunate that even my close friends ask me to stop doing that because it could be fatal. This seed of hate was planted in 70s and now its a fully grown tree, so unfortunate.

Recommend 0

Sikander

Dec 14, 2015 01:06pm

@Tariq things are changing. Thank God. Please come back. We want all our people back. Love to all.

Recommend 0

Citizen

Dec 14, 2015 01:21pm

Good! So far so many attacks against minorities and scores got killed, but so far not even a single guy was punished. Let us see what happens in future.

Recommend 0

Suren Singh Sahni

Dec 14, 2015 01:38pm

Hate is like a match it destroys itself first then it destroys others.

Recommend 0

zarshan

Dec 14, 2015 01:44pm

Nice to see sense prevailing in the society. And the authorities is doing a good job also.

Recommend 0

imran

Dec 14, 2015 02:17pm

Honestly ! The poster was OUTSIDE the shop. Not pasted inside the shop window. Is it fair to arrest the person working inside the shop for this ?

Recommend 0

zarshan

Dec 14, 2015 02:28pm

@imran If something instigates to hate then authorities will take action. It is posted on the front door with shopkeepers consent. We are not here to argue if their may or may not be a provision that he can escape justice.

Recommend 0

aamir

Dec 14, 2015 02:32pm

Good work

Recommend 0

Iqbal Malik

Dec 14, 2015 02:42pm

Good job, police. Now this is the responsibility of the courts to punish this guy

Recommend 0

vijay salem

Dec 14, 2015 02:56pm

To tell you the fact this news really is a positive one.

Recommend 0

Aku

Dec 14, 2015 03:24pm

Well done! Government needs to send a strong message against any such activities

Recommend 0

Goga Nalaik

Dec 14, 2015 03:36pm

Good move. Please keep him behind bars for atlerast 6 months

Recommend 0

R.A

Dec 14, 2015 04:13pm

Good Morning new Pakistan I.K could not do what Lahore police has done KEEP IT ON PLEASE

Recommend 0

Qamber Ali

Dec 14, 2015 04:37pm

good

Recommend 0

Dec 14, 2015 05:32pm

Only one shop keeper arrested? . .don't they see that social sites especially face book is inundated with pages and posts containing hate material? . .they are waiting till it brings about storm of sectarian clashes in the already extremism hit country. . Moreover, no information has provided by the Govt as whom should we complain about such material and people. .

Recommend 0

pakistani

Dec 14, 2015 05:32pm

@Tariq I am extremely sad for you, that we as a society have let you down. You are a son of the soil and I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with you We have had enough of mullahism in Pakistan. Everyone should be equal. No discrimination.

Recommend 0

TARIQ AHMAD

Dec 14, 2015 05:44pm

Well done!!

Recommend 0

ahsan

Dec 14, 2015 06:07pm

Great work. Salute and respect for you Dr Haider Ashraf. All we need is such upright and courageous officers to put everything on the right track.

Recommend 0

Truthful

Dec 14, 2015 06:16pm

A good first step in a right direction! We should create a society based on peace, tolerance and respect for all. Life is too short to spend hating others. Kudos to Dawn for even publishing this! As long as Strong journalism is allowed to thrive in Pakistan and people use social media for good, we could be on the right track!

Recommend 0

saqib uk

Dec 14, 2015 06:20pm

seems Pakistan has already overtaken the majority of so called civilised tolerant countries from the comments I'm reading here. Where as we are now eradicating intolerance and hate against minorities, countries like the US and European nations are starting to breed hate and intolerance.

Recommend 0

Dec 14, 2015 06:24pm

@Tamza Agree, but wishful thinking.

Recommend 0

Bahbal

Dec 14, 2015 06:40pm

@Truthful. Had such steps been taken since 1972 there would have been peace and prosperity in Pakistan. Hate mongers have taken the society to such a level that now neighbours hate each other, the colleagues in every office hate each other and love and affection which was there in Pakistan before 1972 is no more being seen. Action by authorities is commendable. Long live Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Nasir

Dec 14, 2015 07:10pm

People should not buy any thing from his shop that would be a fitting reply to these kind of bigots..

Recommend 0

azure

Dec 14, 2015 07:28pm

In this day and age, can anybody be so stupid so as to put up hate messages and especially that too, if the person happens to be a trader. Traders deal with people on a one-to-one basis and their sustenance depends on this interaction. Why, oh why??

Recommend 0

Qaisar

Dec 15, 2015 09:57am

Great news... let's nab all those who are spreading hate and intolerance.

Recommend 0

hilal ahmad

Dec 15, 2015 03:00pm

myself from kashmir.... I went through all the comments and I cant explain u my feelings...... Pakistan zindabad..... and thanku for all this...... thanku to police of pakistan..... long live Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Alarmed Khan

Dec 16, 2015 04:31am

BTW: What does Abid Hashmi of Gulberg sell, anyway? Consider the possibility that Janab Hashmi arrives in London, Mumbai, or New York and is refused entry (let alone refused service) into a store based on some identifier of his religion!

Recommend 0

Alarmed Khan

Dec 16, 2015 04:35am

@Jalbani Baloch :But first, we must repeal stupid laws and then enforce laws humanely and judiciously.

Recommend 0

illawarrior

Dec 16, 2015 06:49am

If a customer walked into a shop, how would the shopkeeper even know what religion they are? It is not tattooed on their foreheads.

Recommend 0

Abid Hafeez

Dec 16, 2015 10:38am

The guy who was arrested, has his shop in Hassan Tower. I am the witness of the whole scene. Later some guys in anger also distributed stickers against Ahmadis to put those on their shops.

Recommend 0

Logic

Dec 16, 2015 05:23pm

Boycott the store & ruin him financially

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Taptap Send, Arshad Nadeem partner to highlight Pakistan’s unsung champions

The initiative comes at a time when cricket continues to dominate national attention, often overshadowing achievements in other sports.

NexGen Auto (Nishat Group) to Introduce iCAUR in Pakistan

As one of Pakistan’s leading business groups, Nishat Group operates across key sectors including textiles, cement, banking, insurance, power and agriculture.