In Pakistan, the persecution of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at members became increasingly severe after the declaration of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community as non-Muslims. Like many other members of the Jama’at, I also became a victim of this persecution. When I heard that the Jama’at is gathering information to record the events of persecution, I felt motivated to participate in this noble cause. Here is my story.
My name is Miyan Munawar Ahmad. My parents, Hazrat Miyan Nazir Muhammad Sahib (may Allah be pleased with him) and Hazrat Saeeda Begum Sahiba (may Allah be pleased with her) were both companions of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him). My family is from Lahore where I was raised after migration from Qadian following the partition of the Indian subcontinent. When the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) visited Lahore, he often stayed at the home of my maternal great grandfather, Hazrat Miyan Chiragh Deen (may Allah be pleased with him).
I received my higher education at the University of Punjab, Lahore. After completion of my Masters degree in Physics, I began working as an Assistant Research Officer at the Irrigation Research Institute at the head office in Lahore. At the time, I was the only Ahmadi Muslim officer in the department.
After the Pakistan government’s declaration of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at as non-Muslims, my colleagues at the office began to harass me. One of the principal research officers at the institute was a fanatic and blatantly against Ahmadis. He donned a typical attire; robe, long beard and carried an extended tasbih [rosary beads]at all times. He would constantly present plans to send me alone to remote areas such as dam construction sites and tunnels for sophisticated electronic observations, without any assistance, where I could have faced potentially life threatening situations. He would openly proclaim his anger and disgust with Ahmadiyyat and often exclaimed “why can’t this Mirzai be removed away from our eyes?” On many occasions, he also tried to have me transferred to remote areas, but God Almighty created such circumstances that he utterly failed each and every time.
Most of my colleagues also blatantly displayed their hatred for Ahmadis and would use derogatory and disgusting words when speaking of Ahmadiyyat. They would heckle and harass me constantly, and often obstructed my freedom within the office. My only recourse was to write to Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih III (may Allah have mercy upon him), and pray fervently that Allah may provide a way out of this persecution for me.
During this time, I came across a job posting in a newspaper by the Zambian government for an opening for a Lecturer in Instrumentation at the Zambia Institute of Technology (now Copperbelt University). I applied for this job, as did a few others in my office including my senior officer at Irrigation Research, who was also very anti-Ahmadi. Each of us appeared in Islamabad for the interviews. I wrote to Huzoorrh for continued prayers and with the grace and mercy of Allah, I was the only one selected and hired for this position out of all the candidates. Alhamdulillah!
When I received my formal offer of employment from the Zambian government, I proceeded to apply for a leave of absence from my office at the Irrigation Research Institute in Lahore. Upon submission of my application for leave to the Irrigation and Power Department Secretariat, I learned that a large group of my colleagues were conspiring to have my application blocked. They prevented me from leaving the office to further the application at the Secretariat. During a routine inquiry of the status of my application, the clerk in-charge at the Irrigation and Power Department Secretariat, who I felt was God-fearing, discreetly handed over a letter to me and told me to take it and leave lest someone takes notice. This letter was written to the Secretary of the Irrigation and Power Department, who was ultimately responsible for the approval of leaves, by an anonymous member. The letter urged the Secretary to deny my application for leave. This is when I realized the depth of opposition to me due to my faith in my office. I also realized after reading the letter that it was in fact written by one of the workers within my office who was a staunch opponent of Ahmadiyyat.
With all this pressure from the opponents, my application for a leave of absence was declined. The opponents in my office were joyful, gleeful and satisfied that they had succeeded in hindering me from leaving the country and assumed that my offer of employment would now expire and I would not realize this opportunity.
As a last attempt, I appeared before the highest authorities at the Secretariat of the Irrigation and Power department and then ultimately the Secretary to the Government of Punjab. However, these attempts of mine resulted in rejects with the answer, “You are a Mirzai. You cannot be granted leave. You are to return to work.” I was worried that I would miss the deadline by which I had to arrive in Zambia and join the Copperbelt University. But Allah the Almighty had other plans!
Continue your struggle in a soft and humble manner
Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih III (may Allah have mercy with him)
In the days that followed, I had the honour of an audience with Hazrat Kahlifatul-Masih III (may Allah have mercy upon him) during Jalsa Salana in Rabwah. Huzoor (may Allah have mercy upon him) graciously prayed for me and said, ”Continue your struggle in a soft and humble manner.” Following the Mulaqat, I came down from Qasr-e-Khilafat and met with Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Tahir Ahmad (may Allah have mercy upon him). After hearing my plight, Hazrat Sahibzada Sahib’s anger at hearing my situation was palpable and in a powerful voice, he said, “Who are these people to hinder our progress! You should go [to Zambia]!” These words gave me immense strength and confidence. In the days that followed, the prayers of Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih III and Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Tahir Ahmad (may Allah have mercy upon them) began to open doors and provide the means for me to leave for Zambia. Even some of my colleagues from the office at the Irrigation Research Institute started guiding me in confidence on how to discreetly leave without being noticed by the opponents, which I successfully did with God Almighty’s help. I was completely humbled that God inspired a few people from the same office that I faced so much persecution at, to help me despite the opposition of many. I truly believe that the prayers of Huzoor (may Allah have mercy upon him) paved the path for my success.
Once I set out on my journey to Zambia, many obstacles appeared in the process of my departure. Prior to my departure, one of my cousins who was familiar with exit procedures, helped with checking the completeness of my travel documents. After reviewing them he told me that the documents are not sufficient and they will not let me depart but assured me that he will meet me at the departures counter and will try to help. When I arrived in Karachi on the flight from Lahore for the final leg of my journey to Lusaka, Zambia, the departures clearance officials would not let me board. As promised, my cousin was at the departures counter and helped assure the officials that all was in order for me to board the flight. After a lot of back and forth, and hesitancy, Allah put in the officials’ heart that I should be allowed to board and I set on my journey leaving Pakistan for Zambia. This is how Allah time and time again removed my frustrations and obstacles through unexpected help that could only be sent by God alone and a result of Huzoor’s prayers. Alhamdulillah!
A short time after my arrival in Zambia, the Zambian government sent flight tickets for my family to join me and provided us with generous accommodations which we enjoyed for many years. I was well respected and within 3 years, progressed to the post of a Senior Lecturer for Process Control Instrumentation at the Zambia Institute of Technology in Kitwe, Zambia. Alhamdulillah!
After arriving in Zambia, I continued to communicate with one of my colleagues who had supported me during my time of persecution at the Irrigation Research Office in Lahore. He wrote to me that the principal officer, who was a fanatic and bitter opponent of Ahmadiyyat, would often have outbursts of anger and scream in the office saying, “Are we all stupid?! How did he escape right before our eyes?” He even went to the Secretariat to complain and demanded for my extradition from Zambia. He consequently only made a fool of himself by rambling and making ridiculous demands until he was reprimanded by Government officials.
It is also important to mention that during the time I faced persecution at my office in Lahore, Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih III (may Allah have mercy upon him) had initiated the Ahmadiyya Centenary Jubilee scheme. At first, I felt as though my financial situation was not strong, so I only pledged 500 rupees. But then I heard a sermon that reminded us that we should pledge the maximum possible because once we have made a pledge, God always provides us with the means to fulfil it. So with that in mind, I changed my pledge from 500 to 10,000 rupees. Two months later I left for Zambia and within the following 3 months, I had fully paid my pledge. Alhamdulillah!
This experience is an example of how God protects and provides for Ahmadis. Amid severe persecution, He creates the means for their release, safety and progress. It is very difficult and heartbreaking being forced to leave our homeland, extended family and friends. However, we have also witnessed the fruits of this migration, as God continues to help the Jama’at progress and the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat spreads to the corners of the earth.
