Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan. PHOTO: RIAZ AHMED/EXPRESS
In a widely accessed video message, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan said that he would neither revise nor repeal any current laws pertaining to the Ahmadi community, since these were in consonance with his personal beliefs.
Article 260-3 of the 1973 Constitution declares Ahmadis “non-Muslims”. Furthermore, Article 298-B, amongst other things, prevents an Ahmadi from referring to his/her place of worship as a ‘masjid’ or referring to his/her call for prayers as ‘azaan’.
The PTI chief’s message came as a clarification to another popular video in which a woman named Nadia Ramzan Chaudhry, introducing herself as a PTI office bearer, approached the spiritual leader of the Ahmadi community in Britain to encourage his community to vote for the PTI.
In response, the PTI chief made it clear that he had not asked anyone from his party to enlist support from the Ahmadi community, adding that the removal of the stated clauses of the constitution was “not part of PTI’s agenda.”
The PTI chief said that those who do not believe that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was the last prophet of Islam cannot be Muslims. However, Shireen Mazari, the party’s information secretary, quickly clarified that this does not mean that Imran “sanctions violence against minorities”.
Political analyst Rasul Baksh Rais is of the view that Imran’s personal belief will do little to add to the Ahmadi community’s plight. “The community is indeed suffering, but it is suffering because of clauses in the constitution.”
“If Imran seeks to repeal these laws, it would lead to more violence against the Ahmadis.”
Meanwhile, the PTI gathering at Shakargarh was marked with a routine hitting out against the Pakistan Muslim League –N (PML-N). This time round, the Sharif family’s heavy security deployment came under fire.
“Up to 1260 security personnel at the expense of Rs 200 million are being engaged for one family’s security,” said Imran to a crowd in the city of Narowal District, Punjab.
(With additional input from online)
Published in The Express Tribune, May 3rd, 2013.
COMMENTS (29)
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Sad, coming from a non-ahmadi muslim. I don't anybody has a right to decide any other's faith. Even though i do not belief with the ahmadi muslims, i think we should leave Allah to decide who is muslim or not. The constitution of Pakistan is not God, and therefore should not act like God. But wait time will change if more people get educated, then they will feel how unfair it is for the ahmadis. Just hold on in there.
Sad, coming from a non-ahmadi muslim. I hope the time changes.
The Mullah wins again. No escape for pakistan. Insaaf? dont think so.
Who go against Ahmadies they got the punishment in the past from Allah and anybody in future who go against us he or she will get the punishment from Almighty Allah. We are not afraid, because we know the history that whoever fallow the messanger of Allah they always have to suffer in the begining.
Welcome to pk politics 101. The best salesman wins. Whether it be change or revolution, Mr Khan is only offering what the majority wants to hear and the majority surely does not care about whatever is happening to Ahmedies.
A select few can talk about justice or lack of it for others but most people only talk when its their neck on the line. We all can pray for Pakistan and a peacefull future.
What Imran khan said about his views on Ahmedies in the same vein as Z. Bhutto, B. Bhutto, zia ul Haq, and eventually Mushraf bought into them to save his presidency. So very soon Imran will face the same "Insaf" from God as those received before him. He is a big liar and biggot. Is his "Insaf" is for a specific group of Pakistanis and not for minority groups. He is so critical about previous rulers and parimentarians. But how suddenly he thinks that those parliamentarian with fraudulent degree were the people capable of making right decision about somebodies faith. His statement is nothing but a shameless acknowledgement that he is no different from other politician who would sacrifice all moral and ethical values , including killing of innocent people, as long as it serves his purpose of gaining political power. But let be written that with such statements Imran khan's career is doomed and if he did win the election then the future of Pakistan is certainly doomed
There goes justice out the window.
“AL QAEDA hardly exists here,” he said, “and what are called the Taliban are [our] own tribal people. The more we kill them, the more militants we produce.”
Thus spoke PTI leader Imran Khan to BBC’s Islamabad reporter Orla Guerin
http://dawn.com/2013/05/04/right-needs-wise-counsel/
@Sallu: Correct on the DOT..
@Omer Mallhi: False hopes my brother .. as I said if foundations are skewed the whole building will collapse sooner or later ..
@Mike Mohammad: Best interests of the country !!!! WELL SAID .. Look a the situation of the country. Few other such sincere people like Bhutto and Zia and few others started all this in the "best interest of this country". Just need couple of more of such devoted Pakistanis and here you go ... Best of Luck
@BILAL: No matter who you bring if the fondation is not based on Justice the whole building will collapse today or tomorrow. Aren't enjoying the fruites of injustices today? By looking at the society of Pakistan, If you dont agree then may Allah have mercy on you - that too looks near to impossible at least in current situation of the country and society which has become an example of curse of Almighty Allah. But oh you people, dont you see - But yes YOU DON'T.
Imran stands firm or human rights for all pakistanis. He is not in a position to make a fatwa on Qadyani status. He'll make sure that Qadyani and everyone gets same rights to belief in whatever they want to believe in, as long as they are not hurting anyone else in any shape or form. I stand firm with IK.
If a politician is afraid of Mullahs that if he talk about basic human rights of an ahmadi, he would not be elected then how can we believe on his promisses?
different face same ideology affraid of mullahs this country cnt be saved NAYA Pakistan is nothing more than a hollow slogan
Does Imran Khan need such a Pakistan where the state will discriminate citizens on the basis of their beleives. This was not the vision of Quaid i Azam regarding Pakistan. If this is the manefesto of Tareek i Insaaf then we have no hope of INSAAF (Justice) from Imran Khan.
Imran Khan's belief has nothing to do with Ahmadis. He has got all the right to disagree with Ahmadiyya Beliefs or of any other minority. The problem lies with his willingness to not to change the laws which target ahmadiyya community and which devoid them of basic human rights and their access to other opportunities of life as a citizen of Pakistan. Mr. Khan has hastily and fearfully gave the statement not even considering what are the contributions of Ahmadies as citizens of Pakistan and also towards Tehreek e Pakistan. Also he did not refer to Quaid e Azam's stance towards Ahmadis and/or other minorities. Had he not said that "State has nothing to do with individual's religion". If naya pakistan is claimed to be built then how come he ignored the basic principle and guidlines of Quaid e Azam.
Check out PTI's official hate press release;;
PTI denies seeking Ahmadis support in polls
Check the derogatory and hateful way Ahmadi leadership is refereed.
“If Imran seeks to repeal these laws, it would lead to more violence against the Ahmadis.” That's the same as saying "Don't fight the taliban, otherwise they'll kill us more"
ahh man why would imran khan do something like that?? i mean they're human too that doesn't give him the rights to do so.. imran khan was the last person i thought would act this way :(
@Litmus:
Yawnnn..
No wonder why this country is and will always suffer. Its the wrath of God and noting else.
I am an Ahmadi BUT also a Pakistani. As an Ahmadi I am saddened but as a Pakistani I know that there are bigger things happening right now then us. I wish Imran Khan the best of luck and with this earnest prayer that he becomes the light he is claiming........and we all Pakistanis are hoping for him to be.
Any laws regarding to Islam whether be blasphemy or regarding Qadiyani or such laws cannot be changed. People should be asking time and again to change those laws. If anybody even speak to change it, his life would be in danger. So people don't bring that kind of subject for discussion period for the best interest of the country.
@Analyzer: True That bro. And now PPP and PML-N are in coalition govt :)
Check out IK 's response in a Canadian interview.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUFwRToqgAo
Question about defining someone's faith in constitution starts at 9:30
I never thought PTI Opponents could go this far to demoralize the campaign of Imran Khan, If this nation wants to live like other nations(in peace, progressive mind set) IK is the only option, Why those who have already taken their chances, For god sake Bring some one new to experience the change only and then this nation will know what difference it means. that IK talks about.
Yet the urban elites continue to claim IK and PTI are open minded and different from Taliban.