Nadra tells IHC 167,000 Qadianis registered

ISLAMABAD: Nadra on Friday told the IHC that there are over 167,000 thousand Qadianis registered in Pakistan, while 10,205 changed their religious status from Muslim to Qadiani.

The IHC bench on Feb 22, while hearing in a matter regarding amendment to the oath of Khatm-e-Nabuwwat in the Election Act 2017, had directed Nadra to provide statistics of the registered Qadianis in Pakistan and also those who changed their religious faith from Muslim to Qadiani in their Computerised National Identity Cards (CNIC). The IHC bench had issued these directions after a counsel had told the court there are several Qadianis who joined Pakistan civil services introducing them as Muslims and after superannuation they changed their faith to Qadiani once again.

It is to mention here that the IHC bench comprising Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui for the adjudication of this matter has appointed four religious scholars as amicus curiae and has also a put a question before them to address that If a non-Muslim conceal his identity and introduce himself as Muslim, would it come under the definition of cheating/fraud with the state? During Friday’s hearing Justice Siddiqui remarked that this is the biggest fraud that Qadianis to get jobs introduce themselves as Muslims and post retirement revert to their original faith.

The IHC bench appointed Dr Babar Awan and Dr Aslam Khaki also as amicus curiae and later put of in this matter till Monday Feb 26.