Pakistan amends law to retain Ahmedis' identity

Islamabad: Pakistan National Assembly on Thursday approved amended election bill 2017 on Thursday as the majority of the lawmakers voted in favour of the act to retain the identity of the Ahmedi community.

Presented by law minister Zahid Hamid, the bill retained status of Ahmedi community in the light of Constitution and the affidavit has been restored in its original form to strengthen the clauses regarding finality of Prophet Muhammad.

Both English and Urdu affidavits on the matter of Khatm-e-Nubuwwat (finality of the Prophethood) have been added in the legislation. The law minister said that before 2002 general elections, seats were increased and collective polls were approved. He clarified that the same status of Ahmedis and Lahori groups will be retained as in the Constitution.

He said his only concern was that to remove the 10-day limit to submit the affidavit of Khatm-e-Nubuwwat, adding that the bill restored the clause in its original form.

Mr Hamid said that before 2002 general elections, seats were increased and collective polls were approved. He clarified that the same status of Ahmedi and Lahori groups will
be retained as in Constitution. “I firmly believe in Khatm-e-Nubuwwat (finality of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and can’t even think against it,” he cleared, stressing that he was wrongly quoted.