ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet’s decision not to include Ahmadis as non-Muslims in the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) was challenged in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Shuhada Foundation of Pakistan on Wednesday filed a petition through Tariq Asad Advocate and cited Federation through secretary Ministry of Religious Affairs, prime minister through his principal secretary, Pir Noorul Haq Qadri, Minister for Religious Affairs, the National Commission for Minorities through its chairman, the Cabinet Division through its secretary, and Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan through its spokesman as respondents.

The petitioner said that the cabinet had considered the summary, submitted by the Religious Affairs Division, titled “Re-Constitution of National Commission for Minorities” dated April 15, 2020, and had approved the reconstitution of the National Commission for Minorities to give representation to Qadiani and Lahori known as Ahmadi, in the NCM, being a non-Muslim minority in accordance with the law, but after the protests of some religious scholars, the federal cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan on 05-05-2020 has withdrawn the decision to include Qadianis in the NCM.

He added that Qadianis being a non-Muslim minority be included in the NCM and the decision of not including the Qadianis in NCM be set aside.

He continued that those having any doubt or suspicion that in case the Qadianis are included in the list of NCM they would get the opportunity of propagating and practicing their faith like Muslims is entirely mistaken.

The petitioner maintained that to curb such practice, sections 298-A, 298-B and 298-C had been inserted in the PPC by promulgation of the Anti-Islamic Activities of Qadiani Group, Lahori Group and Ahmadis (Prohibition and Punishment) Ordinance, 1984.

He further said that from bare reading of the said provisions the doubts are removed.

By virtue of those provisions they would not be allowed as predicted.

He prayed before the court to direct the respondents number 1 to 5 to set aside the decision of the Cabinet of not including the Qadiani as non-Muslim minority in the NCM, and implement the earlier decision of the Cabinet and direction of the prime minister to include the Qadianis in the NCM, giving them representation therein, equivalent to the other minorities and to reconstitute NCM accordingly.—TERENCE J SIGAMONY