File photo of PTI Chief Imran Khan. PHOTO: FILE
The PTI Chairman was referring to article 260-3 of the Constitution that declares Ahmadis non-Muslims. Additionally, articles 298-B and 298-C prohibit Ahmadis from posing as Muslims, calling their faith Islam, proselytising, or "in any manner whatsoever" outraging the religious feelings of Muslims.
This clarification came in response to a video clip that surfaced on social media, showing a woman named Nadia Ramzan Chaudhry in a meeting with Mirza Masroor Ahmad, spiritual leader of the Ahmadi community, in UK. According to the video, Chaudhry especially asked for Ahmadi votes on behalf of the PTI.
Khan denied any links with the woman and said that it would be against the Representation of the People Act, 1976 and instructions of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to ask for votes in this manner.
“This is a political conspiracy against me as a person and PTI as a party,” said Khan.
In the press release, he added that “Those Ulema who label me as ‘kafir’ and tell people that voting for PTI is ‘haram’ in their fatwas would have been better advised to follow the rules of giving fatwas and ascertained my belief before issuing the same.”
Khan also voiced his belief in the finality of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
In a video message by a visibly distraught Khan, he dismissed the allegations as propaganda. "If you say that when the PTI comes to power and will amend the 1973 constitution with regards to the Ahmedis, this is propaganda."
The PTI Chairman also claimed that one person was involved in the allegations against the party. "He is doing it on political basis and he once called me out on Jewish lobby allegations."
Correction: An earlier version of this article had referred to the spiritual leader of Ahmadi community as Mirza Masroor Qadiani, this has been changed to Mirza Masroor Ahmad.
COMMENTS (132)
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All those saying that it is hypocritical of Imran who has “inflicted” hatred onto the Ahmedi’s. You my friend’s are on the extreme end of the spectrum! No where in his video did he mention of inflicting hatred much rather defended the constitution (Which frankly all of us here have to abide by). The constitution upholds all the minority rights and so does the PTI manifesto. It is a matter of implementation. All of you tend to be self proclaimed liberals and flare up by any religious matter. Please understand you live in a predominantly religious and conservative society. Secularism vs Otherwise is another debate altogether. But keeps in the realms of reality that reign our country. It is the truth that they may be deemed non-muslims upholding the fundamentals of the very religion itself. So much rather, keep in mind how ones political success is in the hands of our somewhat bigoted majority and us the few sitting on our computers are somewhat a voice in the wilderness.
At the time of election he is remembering them . Where he was earlier ?
and it was the dictator Ayub Khan who had to put people in jail for demanding that Ahmadis be declared non muslims@Saleem:
zia did not declare Ahmadies non Muslims, it was an act of parliament unanimously enacted in Bhutto's govt.@Moosa Khan:
Imran Khan gives up his PTI supporter as a sacrificial lamb.
And I thought he was different...
@Saleem: "It was Bhutto (supposedly the father of democracy in land of pure) who did not stand up to the mullahs and made the necessary changes in constitution to declare Ahmadis non muslims. What a joke." . It was Bhutto who did it. IK simply follows in the foot steps of his idol. Should he be hanged for that?
Heart broken and IK just lost my vote!!
Nothing good will come out of anything till religious discrimination and extremism is stopped. Sad to read this, but nothing better is to be expected from a nation who is much too worried about its "religious sentiments" than the religion itself.
and who said that they are or are not muslims?who can judge any faith like this?dismal.
@Rat-Chooha: Very well said
So, what will be new in the Naya Pakistan of Imran Khan..??? as there is nothing new in his statement.. Every thing is dull and Boring as it was in all previous eras since 1973.
@M. Khan: PTI is NOT anti-Ahmadi so stop confusing people with ur distorted explication of Imran Khan's rebuttal to the propaganda circulating on the web. PTI never said anything about not accommodating Ahmadis in the Naya Pakistan. Ahmadis although might be considered Muslims by our 'man-created' constitution, but they are Humans afterall and therefore, PTI will do everything to safeguard their rights as the citizens of the country and as human beings protect their religious autonomy. PTI is not anti-Ahmadi...stop confusing people
Imran was my hero and last hope, but after this statement he'll become a big ZERO. Thanks God i saw his real face before election. Shame on u MR. ZEROOOO
Good Job Imran, You did it well. don't listen to these Qadiyanis and keep up the work.
Imran, you didn't need to clarify and take the blame and get bad name.
Mirza Sahib already did that for you. He already answered to the lady that no one in Pakistan has guts to repeal anti-ahmadi laws. So why did you open your mouth, if ahmadis, including their leader are already clear about the fact that no one will take stand for them?
koi baat nahin khan sb aap nay kaun sa 2/3 majority hasil kr leni hai :p
Pleas vote for PTI - Insaaf sab key liey (Ahmadies' sey maazrat)
Till yesterday i was thinking Imran is a real and only man who can save this country. Today i dont know exactly where i stand.
So you are telling the people now that you are one of them? Why all that machiavillean game? No wonder ppp is now offeing you the loly pops for your cooperations. You were even trying to cheat the Talibans!
Those who hoped for a change must go on vavations now!
Rex Minor
As an Ahmadi I am very offended by this. I don't know why they treat us like we are enemies of the state. We are just regular citizens who want to see the country be successful and we put our lives helping the country. Where can I find this video, all the links seem to be missing. Has he maybe realised his mistake that it might offend some of his fans?
People need to understand that had he pronounced Ahmadi's as "Muslims" - this country would've eaten him alive. In a country where religion is used as a tool to engage and manipulate masses he couldn't have made an unpopular statement and hurt the sentiments of majority of his voters just before the elections. Had he stood up for Ahmedi's, he would've been bashed by politicians, lost his right-wing votes (which by the way are a majority of his votes) and would've lost the elections.
It's sad and I feel sorry for Ahmedi's in this country and also for people who think Imran Khan is superhuman and can withstand any storm. He can't. There are things he can do and things he can't do, and fighting the religious faction in this country is something he can't and won't do. Let him come to power and only then he might be able to use it to defend minorities in Pakistan. The first step is for him to win the election and not do or say something foolish, which might hurt is chances.
@Ateek: Go check his video. He didnt deny rights of Ahmedi's as Pakistanis. But they arent muslim and thats a fact
As an Ahmadi supporter of Imran, this comes as a great shock to me. I thought his response would be more along the lines of: They should be given full rights to practice their faith and should be given security. (We aren't allowed to pray, call Adhan, say Assalamoalaikum etc.) I thought he'd return to us these basic rights that were taken from us, but by the looks of it even this lion can't stand up for our rights.
He is not ignoring the rights of Ahmadis. He is saying the PTI Member didn’t ask for votes of “Ahmadis” as a ethnicity as Election Commission has forbidden the asking of votes based on religion, sect, ethnicity, etc.
@Umer:
Really, and how is that?
All the absurd logic and theatrics by screamingheads above is not going to change two facts:
Ahmadis are Pakistani citizens and are guarenteed fair treatment in the constitution, just like any other minority. They have full right to exercise their vote for the candidate they favour. It does no make the candidate "soft" on Ahmadis.
Ahmadis were declared "non Muslim" by Bhutto and were thus relegated to the status of a "minority" according to the constitution. That is what they are today and if someone wants that decision to be reversed, put a bill on the floor of the new parliament after it commences. It will be debated and voted on and if a majority of parliamentarians vote for it, it will become the law and become part of the constitution.
All other comments, slurs, innuendos, etc. are just pure waste of time and an exercise in I am Holier Than Thou and creating a Smoke Screen to win Brownie Points!
QED
Instead of investigating who is behind the Viral video, which by itself is used against Ahmedis, ET has put IK against the community. There is no easy way out for IK and PTI!
When I go to place my vote, it will be under the section (NONE OF THE ABOVE)!!!!!
vote for pakistan tehreek e insaf
@omz: i am so glad you said it...i second you totally
is having the same rights the same as having the previlege of being called a muslim??? as citizens ahmadis should have equal rights to prosper and have full security of their lives and property but they cannot be called as muslims. i feel sorry if it hurts sentiments of our liberals but that is the way it is.its good that he made his stance clear and if people want to withdraw their votes they can because he is not misguiding and not making false claims that he is not going to fulfil.his stance the other way round would have hurt even more public sentiments. one should understand that if we judge leaders than they wont be completely black or white but shades of gray i.e; they are not going to dissapoint or please you completely so you rather have to check that they please you more or disappoint you more??? and definitely if u find any other better option go vote for them. vote is once in 4 year opportunity and we should use it wisely.
The reason why our Khalifa (Mirza Masroor Ahmad) abstained from Voting is because of ppl like IK that do come to ask for support but in General Public they dont have the spine to do anything.
PTI leader said “If you say that when the PTI comes to power and will amend the 1973 constitution with regards to the Ahmedis, this is propaganda.”
I agree with Taliban supported Khan. His mentors and voters from the rightwing would not allow him to do that. He is telling the truth while his party official was trying to play to the International lobby in the UK.
@amna:
What on earth are you saying? Mullah type? I see ppl above questioning IK for him having to say such a thing regarding ahmedies.. and they are right.. this is indeed a sad day..guess IK is no different than any other :)
So Mr. Khan is just as bad as the rest. There is no maya Pakistan, same old bigoted, hateful Pakistan which will continue to destroy itself.
Wow, I am very disappointed. Mr Imran, how you talk about the rights about Minorities. Ahmadis are Pakistani citizen and have same rights like other Pakistanis. Shame on you, you have no courage and you are also like Nawaz and zardari, no diffierence.
@John the Baptist: while mentioning law you forget that constitution says any person can practice profess and propagate its religion.so why IK is hiding before mullah?
Relatively, PTI has used very soft language against Ahmadis otherwise many people find it their religious obligation to abuse them. What a turn, at one time the signs of a good Muslims were the excellent moral and ethical character along with the proclamation of la ilaha illallah muhammadur rasoolullah . Now the standard has changed - you need to abuse Ahmadis to show that you are a good Muslim in Pakistan. Anyway, it is fully understandable to see the PTI’s vulnerability, after being exploited by JUI-F an explanation was needed. The only edge Imran has against other politicians is his clean financial background otherwise he is not a kind of leader who can take a just stand for politically incorrect issues. He can do anything but to go against his political gurus who are mainly those who have an ideology similar to the Jamat-e-Islami. Imran may be the best option for Pakistan under the given situation but it will be foolish to expect any justice from PTI for the marginalized people of our society. Yes, most of the Ahmadis are excited about Imran, may be they don’t have anyone else to look up to in Pakistani politics, but he is no different from others. It will take a real Mard-e-Momin type leader who can call a spade a spade and take a just stand for his friends and enemies alike.
@John the Baptist: "That is what the consitution says and is the law of the land. If you dont like the law, start a movement to change it. But until then every Pakistani citizen is bound to honour the constitution–it is part of the oath for taking public office."
And is Naya Pakistan goingto be achieved by keeping status quo intact? Is Imran not talking about taxing agricultural income if he comes to power? That is not what the constitution says does it? But he would change it because that is not right. Likewise if he thinks this section of constitution is not right, he should have the courage to say that. Even if he does not, at least he should not reinforce his belief n such a bigoted clause of the constitution.
And as for movement of change t fight for oppressed, most social change only succeeds if people from within the oppressor class lead it. IF any Ahmadi tried to lead such a change, you know as well as I do that he would be killed right away.
@John the Baptist: "@M. Khan: What a loser, can’t even stand up for people’s basic rights I am sure you are referring to ZA Bhutto who declared them non Muslim to begin with. "
Bhutto is dead - was hanged in fact, as is his daughter who was killedby terrorists. Neither of them are fighting this election. Imran however is alive, fighting this election and it is his views that will e judged not people dead and gone no longer contesting.
The funny part is Pakistan was created for the muslims of the sub continent and India is the best country for a muslim to live in. I challenge anyone to refute my statement. ET plz post my comment -I know that truth is alwayz bitter but ah well - again I challenge anyone to refute my statement - muslims of all denominations, sunni,shia,ahmedi etc have full rights under the constitution - name one muslim nation ? Saudi Arabia (no rights for shias) Iran (no rights for Sunnis) etc etc ......I will eagerly wait ur reply
there you go my pakistani brothers - enjoy the tsunami - btw how come IK was able to contest elections ? didnt he have a daughter with a white women outside marriage ? isn't that haram? anyway good to know where he stands. good luck
look at the statement - pathetic - hiding behind obvious flaws in the constitution. Gutless.
he will have to clarify this. Otherwise no vote for PTI
If you Watch that Complete Press Conference. you will watch Mirza Shb already said that in Pakistan Everyone have fear of Mullah and they Hesitate for speaking about rights of Ahmadies.
IK has always talk about the rights of minorities. All the comments going against show nothing but close minded people of mullah type,attacking cowardly. Grow up you all and accept the brave leader Imran khan. inshaaAllah naya Pakistan!
IK is just an ordinary politician and is trying to get powe, thats all
well Imran also married in UK. Does this matter?
IK, Have the courage to take a stand for poor Ahmedis! Sadly we cannot stand up to minorities of this country.
I have come to believe Salman Taseer was real leader.
Man u have faded my hopes. have to return back to isolation.!
Excuse me? Where does he deny links with the woman? Please state? I have watched the video.
@M. Khan: What right?
imran Khan! We love u!! u Rock!!
baseless allegations
So much for those who expected change from Imran Khan. He is no different than any other Paki politician. Welcome to the club of Liars Mr Khan !! Excellent now at least all the world knows that : 1, Khan is a Liar 2. He does not have the guts to stand up for peoples rights. 3. He does not have the courage to stand up to the Mullahs of Pakistan. 4. He does not have the courage to own up the truth !
Frankly, Imran is not only 'dim' but a coward. Poor soul. What a pity.
Disgraceful not to acknowledge the rights of a tiny minority. Treating ahmedis as untouchables. Oh wait, Untouchability does not exist in Islam. It is pure and pious to discriminate Kaffirs after all.
IK, you are such a hypocrite :@
hahaha.... naya pakistan in which minorities are still not going to be treated with euality
If Ahmedis call themselves muslims then what is wrong with that? A lot of muslims who murder and steal someones right and they still have the gall to call themselves muslims. We just cant live wtihour creating divisions can we? Imran Khan if you did say such a thing I would be proud of you.
Hey Everyone Commenting without thinking!!!!! Read:
Imran Khan is saying
"Khan denied any links with the woman and said that it would be against the Representation of the People Act, 1976 and instructions of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to ask for votes in this manner."
He is not ignoring the rights of Ahmadis. He is saying the PTI Member didn't ask for votes of "Ahmadis" as a ethnicity as Election Commission has forbidden the asking of votes based on religion, sect, ethnicity, etc.
Watching and hearing Mr Khan for the last few months just proves the axiom - More the things change, more they remain the same. Pakistanis are in for a huge disappointment if PTI gets elected.
Its a conspiracy against Imran Khan. Those behind this heinous game cannot tolerate him and his party. But I want to tell them your dirty tactics will not work anymore. You have ruled the country for last seven decades and now it's time for the youngsters to choose a new leader.
Those bashing IK without listening to the context of his clarification should feel ashamed.
Long Live Imran Khan.
A small insignificant religious group casts such long shadows on the affairs of our nation. It is the mainstreams weakness and not the minority group's significance.
dear Ik, Ahmadis were not much optimistics about your regime.but you have just revealed your first site "good looking jamaat e islami"..talibans can have much support in the form of against drone strike campaign but peaceful Ahmadis are not even able to get verbal support for their human rights.that was your policy regard minorities in the country,thanks God you have revealed it before elections.
Is a central tenet of Islam 'Only God can judge?' so why the disgraceful persecution of minority groups? Jinnah must be turning in his grave!
So the new Pakistan still discriminates minorities. The new Pakistan will still be ruled by cowards. How I wish it wasn't this new...
It's a joint conspiracy hatched by JUI-F and PTI to cut into JI vote bank. Now PTI will get undecided votes of JI and Majlis-e-Khutam Nubuwat. Obviously JUI-F has no chance in Punjab but at least it can damage its rival group' chance to win a few seats in Punjab.
@Maria Seher:
That is what he is saying ... by repealing what Bhutto did is precisely the right starting point
Was Imran Khan promising a change? Have we not experienced another Imposter promising a 'CHANGE' anti-Iraq war, who after being elected ordered the surge in Afghanistan, kept Guatanimo prison as a bait for the terrorists, instead of announced closure!
It is time that Mr Imran Khan declare his version of faith and the vision for Pakistan. An Islamic democracy with equal rights for all its citizens and an open debate on the blesphamic legislations and those of Ex Communcation? If you are not against them then you are for them and this implies a Status Quo, not a change.
The people of Pakistan need a Leader, who leads and not the one who dithers! You owe this to them.
Rex Minor
@John the Baptist:
Only bigots support apartheid, constitution or not. Why is Mandela hero and apartheid regime of South Africa villain?
Where is your spine IK? Seriously sad read!!!
They can overturn all amendments done by Musharraf and/or other dictators but not Zia's or anti-humane or ridiculous laws on which such politicians feel proud to keep. Such a ridiculous constitution which is treated as a divine script. Sorry IK, you just lost my vote.
Am a big supporter of PTI, but I'm really disappointed at this. IK should not have "clarified". Plus I believe in his Insaf slogans and Insaf would be to make amendments to the constitution regarding this.
What's so wrong with the video? It's a person asking about the voting preferences of the Ahamdis and the spiritual leader responding with why the Ahmadis can't or won't vote under Pakistani laws. Why would the PTI even feel that it's important to address something which is neither sensational nor incendiary, but just frankly reasonable!
Man has no back bone. Lost my vote today. All that big mouth but weak as water
Guys, IK Rocks..
He`s a True Muslim and he has proved again... Ahmedis are not muslims and they never were.
While I think PTI could have gone for a more thought out response, it would have been great if ET had provided a full context of the situation. JUI-F is running a full-fledged campaign in its constituencies that IK is supported by Ahmedi and Jewish lobbies and voting for IK would one of the biggest sins a Muslim can commit. This justification came out in response to those accusations.
Qadyani's are no Muslims and it was very important for PTI and IK to clear the stance here.... Protecting the rights of minorities is all together a different thing which PTI believes in..... This video is prepared to give a shut up call to all the dirty politicians out there who are trying the gain votes based on religion !
@John the Baptist:
In that case Imran Khan is walking in Bhutto's steps and is no different.
@Moiz Omar:
Mr. Imran you speak for full equality of Pakistanis, yet you support these parts of the Constitution which practically criminalize being an Ahmadi in Pakistan.
That is what the consitution says and is the law of the land. If you dont like the law, start a movement to change it. But until then every Pakistani citizen is bound to honour the constitution--it is part of the oath for taking public office.
Has any body seen the new video clip on ET which shows Shahbaz Sharif Talking to a Judge and manipulating case judgement.
God save Pakistan if it's touted 'best hope' is as big a religious bigot as other extremists. The treatment of Ahmadis in Pakistan, by the Pakistan state and its laws, is just despicable and is related to the core identity of the kind of state Pakistan is.
@M. Khan:
What a loser, can’t even stand up for people’s basic rights
I am sure you are referring to ZA Bhutto who declared them non Muslim to begin with.
Funny! Imran Khan has no hesitation against passing fatwa or discrimination against Ahmadis but in the same breath, he is offended that his own faith is being challenged by Mullahs! Hypocrisy
@Moiz Omar:
Salam. "articles 298-B and 298-C prohibit Ahmadis from posing as Muslims, calling their faith Islam" I haven't read articles 298-B and 298-C but if they indeed say what ET says above then there shouldn't be much issue with it. If a Muslim in Israel poses as a Jew and and preaches Islam while calling it Judaism should be "practically criminalized".
IK being a populist politician is merely speaking what majority Pakistanis want him to speak.
Perhaps Taliban are wasting their bombs, they can get the job by merely talking with majority Pakistanis. Minorities (Muslim or Non-Muslim) -better get out of that place before things get too hot to handle as Pakistan makes a transition to 'Naya Pakistan' under the upcoming Taliban Raj.
@Ateek:
Because he is a bigot like the rest of them.
pti doesnt even their own member now how can they defend an ordinary Pakistani when they come to power? proof: http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1635811988429469066901579335630_n.jpg
@common man:
A bigot more like.
Hasn't ECP prohibited anyone indulging ins sectarianism? Aren't all sides who are blaming each other on this indulging in sectarianism?
Another SIXER..Imran Khan Balla kee bullay bullay
I have no words to slap these bogus politicians who are blaming on IK....for God sake now pity on this poor nation and do your business. What they have done for this nation, some are being involved in making dollars, doing corruption and other are dividing nation in the name of religion, you have ruin the country.
Is this Tsunami????????
It was Bhutto (supposedly the father of democracy in land of pure) who did not stand up to the mullahs and made the necessary changes in constitution to declare Ahmadis non muslims. What a joke.
@M. Khan:
"What a loser, can’t even stand up for people’s basic rights."
Yes. And he says he abandoned the fear of dying the day he entered politics.
And this is what he says to Karan Thapar : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMYkVFlzJ-c
Watch the video and see what a coward and duplicitous person he is.
After this, I no longer support Mr. Imran Khan and his party PTI. I use to support him, but if he fully supports the discriminatory articles 298-B and 298-C of the Constitution I can no longer support him. Mr. Imran you speak for full equality of Pakistanis, yet you support these parts of the Constitution which practically criminalize being an Ahmadi in Pakistan.
This is a great conspricy against imran khan but he will prevail inshallah ...
@Baset and all PTI supporters If PTI does not stand for minority then it is no batter than PPP or PML. Standing for minority and specially Ahmadi's in Pakistan is the litmus test for any political party.
as an Ahmadi it is so disappointing to see that we are not even given basic rights.... if imran is really trying to copy a true democracy like the one in the west then he should not ignore the fact that everyone has equal rights and freedom despite race, colour or religion. AND ITS NOT QADIANI ITS AHMADI ... pathetic that they cannot even say the actual name
@Baset:
What, there is nothing wrong in what Imran said?
We are unfortunate that none of the three mainstream parties (PTI, PMLN, PPP) are secular parties. People who consider PPP as a liberal party need to wake up, they are the one who created this mess called "1973 constitution".
very good IK... you are a true muslims, true believer .
So the brave Mr. Khan - not so brave after all -eh!
Also - I just watched the clip, I dont think there's anything wrong in this clip except for the lady was very persuasive and firm in her belief that Tehrik i Insaf's manifesto calls and forces upon implementation of Freedom and Justice which unfortunately, Imran Khan proved otherwise in his explaination. Pity me, I am sort of a IK supporter.
So some people issued a fatwa without listening to PTI and Imran Khan? I wonder whether they will issue an apology?
Imran Khan's (and PTI's) stand on the issue is that although they (Ahmadis/Qadianis/Lahoris) are indeed non-muslims, they do have right to live peacefully (without fear of threats to their lives), own property and conduct business; just as the Constitution enshrines.
No amount of sick propaganda against PTI will force our hand to change our view in either direction. We have taken a principled stand on every issue, and this is no different.
ECP should take notice of such filthy propaganda against PTI
No worries Ik, we know you, these cheap tactics won't harm PTI, nation is behind you. Keep rocking sir.
I would have appreciated if he had explained saying that Ahmadis are part of this soceity, they are Pakistanis they hold equal rights as any other Pakistani and there is nothing wrong if Ahmadis donated for his campaign, there is nothing wrong about it, why call it a conspiracy agains him?
Corrupt mafia in Pakistan as well as their American and Arab masters seem in much pain these days. So propaganda machines are working hard, as well as lifafa journalism is at its best these days. Go IK go, another 8 days and we will defeat these corrupts and their masters this time.
Using religion to gain political support is a double edged sword. One can gain strength by gaining sympathies of TTP but there is always the danger of getting religion based sentiments used against yourself from other politicians.
The head of Ahmadi community is Mirza Masroor Ahmad, not Mirza Masroor Qadiani. ET Web Desk kindly get your facts straight.
A very big disappointment, No one has the guts to stand up to these Mullahs.
so? who cares? they are humans after all, and more importantly, citizens of this country, with the right to vote. what is wrong in campaigning their vote? Or are we as a nation so disgraceful? Have we really reached these depths? I am disgusted by Pakistan in moments like these...
ET please take a break don't you get tired by hammering Imran Khan 24/7. I-m still waiting to see an anti-PPP or anti PML N article. PTI is the last hope !!
What a loser, can't even stand up for people's basic rights.