Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday issued a statement saying that the “PTI totally subscribes to the article in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on the Ahmadis. It is not part of the PTI agenda to seek amendment of the said article in the Constitution.”
The PTI Chairman was referring to article 260-3 of the Constitution that declared 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” offending 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).