The Pakistani government and politicians, however, insist religious minorities enjoy equal rights in the country - a claim which is refuted by most independent observers and human rights organizations in Pakistan.
Riaz Fatiyana, a member of parliament belonging to the conservative Muslim League of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, told DW that the main issue was not about discrimination but about the implementation of laws.
Salimuddin also criticized the Pakistani media, particularly the Urdu press, for maligning Ahmadis. But Mubashir Zaidi of Dawn News, a private TV channel in Pakistan, told DW that the allegations were not true as the Pakistani media had improved.
"Electronic media in Pakistan, which also include Urdu TV channels, highlights all kinds of issues, including discrimination against Ahmadis," said Zaidi.
Despite Zaidi's claim, many Pakistani observers are of the opinion that in the past decade discrimination against Ahmadis has increased manifold in Pakistan, as the country deals with Islamic extremism and religious fanaticism on many levels.
In line with the Quranic injunctions he wanted Pakistan to be a nation state. Devine revelation in Quran reads, Verily, as for those who have broken the unity of their faith and have become sects — you have nothing to do with them. (6:159). He neither wanted Pakistan to be a theocracy. While talking to the people of United States in a broadcast talk on 26 February 1948 he said, “Pakistan is not going to be a theocratic state — to be ruled by priests with a divine mission.†He in fact wanted to create a state that would foster socio-economic justice. In a public address in Chittagong on 26 March 1948 he said, “Pakistan should be based on the sure foundations of social justice and Islamic socialism — no other ‘ism’ - which emphasise equality and brotherhood of man.â€