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19 June 2002

Wednesday

07 Rabi-us-Saani 1423

EC orders declaration on finality of Prophethood: New voters, objections’ entry
By Our Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD, June 18: The Election Commission on Monday issued instructions to the Revising Authorities, appointed for preparation of electoral rolls, asking them that if an objection was filed till June 27, that a person had got himself enrolled as a voter and he was not Muslim, he should be summoned and told to sign a declaration regarding his belief about the finality of the prophethood of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).

The Election Commission has issued the order to the Revising Authorities in view of promulgation of the Conduct of General Elections (Second Amendment), Order, 2002.

The EC said that if the objection was filed by June 27, 2002, claiming that the voter was not a Muslim, a notice should be issued to the voter concerned to appear before Revising Authorities within 15 days and sign a declaration regarding his belief about the absolute and unqualified finality of the Prophethood of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).

The EC also directed the Revising Authorities that in case the voter refused to sign the declaration, he shall be deemed to be a non-Muslim and his name shall be deleted from the joint electoral rolls and added to a supplementary list of voters in the same electoral areas as non-Muslim voter. In case the voter does not turn up in spite of service of notice, an ex-parte order will be passed against him.

The following is the text of the Order promulgated by the Chief Executive on Monday:

Chief Executive's Order No.15 of 2002.

AN ORDER further to amend the Conduct of General Elections Order, 2002.

WHEREAS it is expedient to further to amend the Conduct of General Elections Order, 2002 (Chief Executive's Order No.7 of 2002), for the purposes hereinafter appearing:

Now, therefore, in pursuance of the Proclamation of Emergency of the fourteenth day of October, 1999, and the Provisional Constitution Order No.1 of 1999, and in exercise of all powers enabling him in that behalf, the Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is pleased to make and promulgate the following Order:

1. Short title and Commencement (1).

This Order may be called the Conduct of General Elections (Second Amendment) Order, 2002.

2. It shall come into force at once. 2. Insertion of new Articles 7B and 7C, Chief Executive's Order No.7 of 2002. In the Conduct of General Elections Order, 2002 (Chief Executive's Order No.7 of 200), after Article 7A, the following new Articles shall be inserted, namely:- "7b. Status of Ahmadis etc. to remain unchanged. — Notwithstanding anything contained in the Electoral Rolls Act, 1974 (XXI of 1974), the Electoral Rolls Rules, 1974, or any other law for the time being in force, including the Forms prescribed for preparation of electoral rolls on joint electorate basis in pursuance of Article 7 of the Conduct of General Elections Order, 2002 (Chief Executive's Order No. 7 of 2002), the status of Quadiani Group or the Lahori Group (who call themselves 'Ahmadis' or by any other name) or a person who does not believe in the absolute and unqualified finality of the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him), the last of the prophets or claimed or claims to be a Prophet, in any sense of the word or of any description whatsoever, after Muhammad (peace be upon him) or recognizes such a claimant as a Prophet or a religious reformer shall remain the same as provided in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973."

"7C - If a person has got himself enrolled as voter and objection is filed before the Revising Authority notified under the Electoral Rolls Act, 1974, within ten days from issuance of the Conduct of General Elections (Second Amendment) Order, 2002, that such a voter is not a Muslim, the Revising Authority shall issue a notice to him to appear before it within fifteen days and require him to sign a declaration regarding his belief about the absolute and unqualified finality of the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Form-IV prescribed under the Electoral Rolls Rules, 1974.

In case he refuses to sign the declaration as aforesaid, he shall be deemed to be a non-Muslim and his name shall be deleted from the joint electoral area as non-Muslim. In case the voter does not turn up in spite of service of notice, an ex parte order may be passed against him."

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