Islamabad, Feb. 23 (TNS): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has barred the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) from making any changes in the religion column on national identity cards of the Muslim citizens.
The decision was made by Justice Shaukat Aziz Sidiqui during the hearing of a case pertaining to amendments in Khatm-e-Nabuwat clause of the Election Act, 2017 on Friday.
The petitioner’s counsel Advocate Hafiz Arfat concluded his arguments in today’s hearing. He opined that the amendments in Election Act’s oath relating to the finality of Prophethood were unconstitutional as basic structure of the Constitution cannot be changed through any amendment.
A sealed record of registered Ahmadi community was also presented before the court, which reveals that a total of 167,473 citizens have registered themselves as having an Ahamadi faith while 10,205 Muslims have made changes in religion column of their computerised national identity cards (CNICs) to reveal their identity as Ahmadis.
Justice Siddiqui questioned Nadra’s authority to change religious affiliation of any Muslim having a CNIC. The caretaker Nadra DG responded saying the department did not have any option to do that and people who apply to change their religion from Islam submit fake undertakings for correction.
“This practice is tantamount to fraud and treason against the state and the Muslim Ummah,” Justice Siddiqui remarked.
