rabwah pakistan cram bus mini-vans 10,000 pakistanis travel mosque outskirts small punjabi town rabwah sole purpose denounce followers minority sect base infidels enemies state members long persecute ahmadi community forbid call muslims face discrimination violence accusations faith insult islam open vitriol display oct. 20 rally new year say anti-ahmadi rhetoric also re-enter mainstream pakistani politics politicians seek shore support among religiously conservative voters surprise gain two new islamist party easy community scapegoat political opponents target say usman ahmad move pakistan britain work community activist general election due 2018 politicians religious fringe establish party ahmadis sight past six weeks row propose change election law would ease barriers ahmadis participate elections see group denounce floor pakistan parliament one new islamist party hold street protest government since take ads major newspapers reaffirm religious oath require elect officials vow follow anyone claim prophet mohammad belong qadiani group use common derogatory term ahmadis ahmadis consider muslims recognition mirza ghulam ahmad found sect british-ruled india 1889 subordinate prophet view many sunni majority breach islamic tenet prophet mohammad god last direct messenger ahmadi sect 10-20 million followers worldwide face discrimination number muslim-majority nations indonesia algeria well ostracize large part muslim community britain half million ahmadis pakistan local leaders say though estimate put number 2-4 million ahmadis common defendants criminal charge blasphemy pakistan carry death penalty law call place worship mosques distribute religious literature recite koran use traditional islamic greet measure say criminalize daily live legal restrictions begin 1974 then-prime minister zulfiqar ali bhutto pass constitutional amendment declare ahmadis non-muslim decade late military dictator general zia ul haq bar ahmadis identify muslim community leaders say move lay groundwork sectarian divide since see many violent attack ahmadis birth multiple militant organizations include many link islamic state past four years punjab government also target ahmadis country anti-terrorism laws file least eight case ahmadis charge produce hate literature include sect holy texts offices ahmadi magazine rabwah raid december 2016 police arrest seven people confiscate paper hard drive storm office felt like group terrorists come say amir fahim work magazine hold 65 days say religious language use belong us things write offend sensibilities muslims community leaders say use anti-terrorism laws mark new phase target ahmadis ahmadi state laws crime pakistan ahmadi community spokesman salimuddin say restrictions annual gather annual game ... state persecute us would persecute punjab government spokesman malik muhammad ahmad khan say authorities use anti-terrorism laws target particular minority group punjab government arrest thousands charge hate speech last three years tell reuters anti-ahmadi group also include many ahmadis pakistan say truly feel safe rabwah town 60,000 eastern punjab 95 percent ahmadi town infrastructure maintain contributions make community include free hostels food visitors community organize garbage clean-up edge rabwah lie small settlement mosque run right-wing islamist organization openly profess hatred ahmadis organization khatm-e-nubuwwat finality prophet build mosque land punjab government order confiscate ahmadis 1975 low-income house khatm-e-nubuwwat forefront initiate blasphemy allegations ahmadis every year 36 years group hold anti-ahmadi rally mosque qadianis enemies prophet say aziz ur rehman organizer rabwah conference add country make name prophet accept qadianis always volatile political atmosphere pakistan especially tense since supreme court remove former prime minister nawaz sharif office july corruption allegations deny calculations mainstream party complicate formation two new islamist political group garner 10 percent two recent by-elections could become spoilers close election one new party tehreek-e-labaik launch political furor last month lawmakers sharif party still hold parliamentary majority approve apparently small change country election law change eliminate requirement ahmadi voters declare muslim turn religious oath elect officials declare belief finality prophet affirm ahmadi simple declaration belief tehreek-e-labaik quickly term concessions ahmadis blasphemy threaten mass protest government still control sharif party quickly retreat reverse change week late speak pakistan national assembly sharif son-in-law lawmaker muhammad safdar awan call ahmadis bar employment government judiciary military sharif late distance safdar statement climbdown appease tehreek-e-labaik last week launch street protest blockade roads islamabad demand law minister sack protest ongoing paralyze traffic capital saadia toor author state islam say likely anti-ahmadi rhetoric continue next year elections due end august anti-ahmedi sentiment widely hold across pakistani muslim mainstream even among moderate sunnis say use scapegoats political purpose easy pakistan 's long-persecuted ahmadi minority fear become election scapegoat