Speaking a week after 95 Ahmedis were killed during terrorist attacks on two mosques of the sect that has been declared “non-Muslim” under Pakistani laws, Sharif said the Ahmedis too are citizens of the country.

“Ahmadis are our brothers and sisters,” he said. His comments came in the wake of Ahmedi leaders expressing dismay over the Punjab government’s apathetic attitude towards protecting marginalised sections of society.

Sharif further told reporters that militants have no religion or boundaries. "It is useless to identify them with one particular area. They must be chased wherever they were hiding. The government alone cannot fight terrorism, rather nations fight such wars,” he said.

“The entire nation must stand up to the threat because it threatens its existence,” Sharif said.

Over the past few days, there have been repeated calls for action against militants based in southern Punjab who were linked to the attacks on the Ahmedi mosques.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said militants from southern Punjab have joined hands with Taliban and al-Qaeda to destabilise Pakistan. Sharif said action should be taken against the militants, irrespective of where they came from.

“Wherever these militants came from, they played havoc with Lahore. They should be caught and taken to task. Some of them were caught in Lahore and they are giving good leads to their network,” he said.

“People should rest assured that the federal and provincial governments are using all resources to win this war,” Sharif said.

Sharif’s comments on the Ahmedis drew sharp criticism from religious parties like Khatm-e-Nabuwat Movement, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and Jamaat-e-Islami.

Ripples in political, religious circles

Maulana Ilyas Chinauti, the head of KNM, which has been at the forefront of the movement against Ahmedis,said Sharif should seek “forgiveness from Allah and the people of Pakistan for calling the Ahmedis his brothers”.

“Ahmedis are traitors and they deserve no sympathy whatsoever. Nawaz Sharif is trying to please the US by showing sympathy for Ahmedis,” he said. Sharif had hurt the feeling of all Muslims and KNM would stage protests till he apologised, he said.

JUI president Maulana Samiul Haq said his party would launch a countrywide protest if Sharif did not take back his statement.