Pakistan’s police on Monday announced the arrest of the deputy leader of Pakistan’s Tehreek-e-Labaik (TLP) party, Zaheerul Hassan Shah, for placing a bounty against Chief Justice of the Pakistan Qazi Faez Esa, according to local media. Hassan Shah placed the 10-million rupee bounty against Esa because of the Chief Justice’s alleged support of the minority Ahmadi community.

Lahore Police have charged Hassan Shah under the Anti-Terrorism Act for religious hatred, rioting and attempts to put pressure on the judiciary. The case built against Hassan Shah also includes provisions of “contempt of the higher judiciary,” interference in government and the obstruction of legal duties. 1,500 other members of the TLP were also named in the case.

Hassan Shah was arrested when hiding in the city of Okara after announcing the bounty in a protest outside a press club.

Esa has been the target of criticism by many extremist groups in Pakistan over the granting of bail to an Ahmadi suspect even though Esa was not on the bench in the case. The Sindh High Court issued an order releasing an Ahmadi suspect on bail who was accused of blasphemy under Section 298B of the Pakistan Penal Code for using the title ‘Syed’ in his name. The title of “Syed” is understood to be given exclusively to descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.

The Ahmadi community first came into the spotlight after the Pakistan Parliament declared that they were non-Muslims and ratified this into the Constitution of Pakistan. Since then, the Ahmadi community have been the targets of criticism and condemnation by extremist groups. The UN expressed “grave concern” regarding the “discrimination and violence” against the Ahmadi community in Pakistan, with reference to reports of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detention, attacks on places of worship and the curtailment of free expression, peaceful assembly and association. The UN called on Pakistani authorities to “take immediate action to address this situation.”