The Riots of 1953 — Page 29
29 the Central Government and the Provincial Government on vari- ous occasions, apprising both the Governments of the ugly situa- tion which was developing. These representations, cover the entire period of the anti-social and unlawful activities of the Ahrar and the Islami Jamaat and their allied groups. The letters addressed by the Anjuman and branches are appended to this written state- ment as Appendix “D” for the perusal of th is Honourable Court of Enquiry. 34. Ahmadiyya Deputations also waited upon the officials of the two Governments. Similarly branches of the Anjuman in various places, faced with an alarming situation repeatedly contacted local officials and apprised them of the situation and sought their help. They were shown oral sympathy but generally no action was taken to help them. The danger continued to develope and it appeared that at any moment there would be a conflagration. As our interview with responsible officials of the Provincial Government had borne no fruit a deputation of the members of the Ahmadiyya Community ultimately waited on the then Chief Minister of the Punjab on 24th February, 1953. To the amazement of the deputation he expressed the extraordinary view that he would take no action regarding anything said and done in a mosque and that he would not take any risk and expose himself to the censure of the Centre. The details of this interview are mentioned in Appendix “E”. 35. The situation grew worse day by day, and the incidents connected with Lahore which are described hereinafter bring out clearly the logical result of the policy here-in-fore pursued. Incidents con n ected with the other stor m centres viz Lyallpur, Rawalpindi, Montgomery, Sialkot, Gujranwala and Rabwa h including losses incurred by the members of the Ahmadiyya Community and attempts made to forcibly make them renounce