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	Sunday, November 2, 2003,  Chandigarh, India
M A I N   N E W S

51 years, and final burial still awaited
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Qadian, November 1
A spot adjoining the tomb of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani, founder of the Ahmadiyya Jammat, has been lying vacant for the past more than half a century. The reason: the mortal remains of Behgm Nusrat Jehan, wife of the founder who died at Rabwah (Jhang district) in Pakistan in 1952, could not be brought to Qadian, courtesy Pakistan, where Ahmadiyyas are persecuted.

Similar is the case of three of the five spiritual heads of the Qadian sect, who died either in England or Pakistan. After the founder, only one spiritual head, Alhaaj Moulvi Noruddin, who died in 1914, found the final resting place in Qadian.

Long before Partition, the founder, who died at Lahore on May 26, 1908, was buried at Bahashti Maqbara in Qadian the next day. However, a spot reserved beside the tomb still awaits the final burial of his wife.

Even the remains of Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad Khalifatul, second successor, who died in Pakistan in 1965, are yet to be brought to Qadian.

The third successor, Mirza Nasir Ahmad Khalifatul Masih, who died in Pakistan in 1982, also had the same fate.

Interestingly, even the remains of Hazarat Mirza Tahir Ahmad Khalifatul Masih and his wife Asifa Beghum, who died in 1993 and 2003, respectively, in England, could also not be brought to Qadian since they were Pakistani nationals.

Mr Ahmad Jawed, secretary, external affair, of the Jammat Ahmadiyya, says the remains of the spiritual heads and the wife of the founder could not be brought to Qadian as both India and Pakistan do not have cordial relations.

However, Mr Burhan Ahmad Jafar, secretary for publications of the jammat, has taken up the case with Mr Tarlochan Singh, Chairman of the National Minorities Commission. Mr Tarlochan Singh has promised Mr Jafar that he would take up the matter with the Government of India.

Mr Jaffar says it is the desire of all Ahmadiyyas to be buried in the graveyard of Qadian after their death. However, the rules for the burial at Qadian are strict and only the “lucky ones” get a place in Bahashti Maqbara. The applications are screened by a sub-committee that is authorised to take the final decision.

Source: www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031102/main8.htms