Nomination forms: Religious groups critical of change

Call omission of Khatame Nabuwat affidavit a conspiracy.

LAHORE:

The omission of a mandatory affidavit on Khatme Nabuwat (finality of prophethood) from nomination forms of the local government elections has drawn criticism of several religious groups.

The affidavit was included in the nomination forms for May 11 general elections and is also a part of nomination forms for local government elections in other provinces.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Jamaat-i-Islami Punjab chief Dr Sayed Waseem Akhtar said the omission was “alarming.” He said the rulers were apparently trying to turn Pakistan into a secular state.

He said the affidavit should be restored immediately.



He said the JI would never allow the country’s rulers to dent the Islamic image of the country.

“Pakistan was created in the name of Islam,” he said.

Jamaat Ahle Sunnat chief Mazhar Saeed Kazmi too demanded the inclusion of the affidavit in the nomination papers.

He called the exclusion a “conspiracy against Pakistan and Islam.” He said the government should award “exemplary punishments” to those responsible for the ommission.

Sunni Ittehad Council leaders Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Haji Hanif Tayyeb, Tariq Mahboob and Allama Muhammad Sharif Rizvi also demanded that the government restore the affidavit as soon as possible.

They threatened to launch a protest movement against the government if it did not comply.

Anjuman Asataza leader Pir Muhammad Atharul Qadri called the new nomination forms un-Islamic and said such acts were not tolerable.

Muttahida Tehrik Khatme Nabuwat Coordination Committee rejected the nomination papers without the affidavit.

They said the government wanted to “favour” Ahmadis by removing it.

Majlis Ahrar-i-Islam Pakistan leader Syed Ataul Muhaiman Bukhari and Jamiat Ulema Islam secretary general Maulana Abdul Rauf Farooqi, Pakistan Shariat Council secretary general Maulana Zahidur Rashdi, Jamaat-i-Islami deputy secretary Dr Farid Ahmed Paracha, Jamiat Ulma-i-Islam information secretary Maulana Muhammad Amjad Khan, International Khatam-i-Nabuwat Movement leader MPA Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Chinioti, Tanzim-i-Islami Pakistan information secretary Mirza Muhammad Ayub Baig and Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith chief Rana Muhammad Shafiq Khan Pasroori in a joint statement issued on Sunday, said the exclusion of the omission was an anti-Islam act.

Majlis Ahrar-i-Pakistan secretary general Abdul Latif Khalid Cheema said the country was plagued by problems because of the Ahmadis at important posts in establishment. He said the published nomination forms should be scrapped and replaced with new forms bearing the affidavit. He said the government should punish those responsible.

It is worth mentioning that Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman had complained to the chief minister over the phone on Saturday and asked him to ensure restoration of the affidavit.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th,2013.