The Riots of 1953 — Page 5
5 that it would be difficult for them to recover their lost prestige for a long time. In the Ahmadiyya Community they felt an organised and powerful rival and felt that if they were to succeed in their aspirations they must drive this rival out of the field. 6. Consistently in the light of their previous history the Ah- rar hit on the only plan known to them, namely, under the garb of religion to excite the masses against the Ahmadiyya Community. They arranged a Tabligh Conference at Qadian. The Conference was held under the auspices of the British Government, which provided for them all facilities. Many thousands of people gath- ered at Qadian from all parts of the country whereas the Head of the Ahmadiyya Community was restrained 8 from summoning members of his Community from outside. Sayyed Ataullah Shah Bokhari, the veteren Ahrar leader, in his presidential address at Qadian maligned the Community and used against them every kind of abuse and vituperation he was capable of. The address roused the feelings of the Muslims to the highest pitch against the members of the Ahmadiyya Community. Maulana Ataullah Shah was prosecuted under Section 153-A, I. P. C. but his trial was made on occasion to malign the Ahmadiyya Community and this process of vilification continued under the garb of a judicial trial. By this trial the Ahrar succeeded in exciting among a section of Muslims more hatred against the Ahmadiyya Community and gaining more popularity. 7. But the setback which the Ahrar thus partially retrieved was followed by another of a more serious character. The Shahid Ganj Mosque at Lahore was given over to the Sikhs which exas- perated the Muslims. The incidents connected with the mosque led to the opening of firing by the Government with the result 8 Order dated 17. 10. 34 signed C. C. Garbett, Chief Secretary Punjab.