Chief Election Commissioner former Chief Justice Irshad Hasan Khan on Sunday explained that the status of persons belonging to the Quadiani group or the Lahori group (who call themselves 'Ahmadis' or by any other name) shall remain unchanged as provided in the Constitution.
A notification issued by the CEC in exercise of the power conferred upon him under Article 219 (a) of the Constitution, Section 4 and Section 28 (2) of the Electoral Rolls Act, 1974, said that the Form-IV for Muslim voters containing oath/declaration as to the belief about the absolute and unqualified finality of the Prophet hood of Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) as well as Form-X for non-Muslim voters prescribed under Rule 9 of the Electoral Rolls Rules, 1974 shall stand restored with immediate effect.
The CEC said the Forms-IV already filed by Muslim voters pursuant to the programme announced on the December 30, 2003 for revision of electoral rolls, 2004, shall be treated to be validly tiled if these are accompanied by the aforesaid oath/declaration and shall be processed by the Revising Authorities accordingly.
He explained that Muslim voters, who have filed Forms-IV without the aforesaid oath/declaration pursuant to the programme for annual revision of electoral rolls shall submit the aforesaid oath/declaration or submit aforesaid Forms-IV containing the oath/declaration.
The CEC said separate lists for Muslim voters and non-Muslim voters shall be prepared.
He also explained that the time for filing claims, objections and applications for corrections has also been extended up to April 14.
The revising authorities may dispose of claims, objections and applications simultaneously but not later than April 30, he added.