Mob burns Ahmadi places of worship in Pakistan

Pakistani police are searching for the people who torched houses of worship belonging to the minority Ahmadi community in central Pakistan.  Police official Munawwar Hussain says a mob torched the buildings in the Punjab province Saturday night, accusing a local Ahmadi of burning a copy of the Koran.  Hussain said a crowd had also set ablaze a factory the previous day after workers found copies of the Koran near a fireplace. He says police have arrested the factory's security chief, who is an Ahmadi. No one was hurt in any of the incidents.

Ahmadis, who have their origin in British-controlled northern India in the late 19th Century, identify themselves as a Muslim movement and follow the teachings of the Koran. However, they are considered non-Muslims by mainstream Muslims since they consider their founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as the promised Mahdi and Messiah.  Pakistan’s parliament declared Ahmadis non-Muslims in 1974.  Attacks on minorities over blasphemy allegations occasionally occur in Pakistan. Christians and other minorities have also been targeted in past. (Source: AP)