LAHORE: The Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan has dissociated itself from the upcoming general election 2018.

In a press statement, Ahmaddiya community’s spokesman Saleemuddin said though the elections would be held under a joint electoral system, there was, however, a separate voters’ list for Ahmadis.

“Currently there is one voters’ list that includes all religious groups, including Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Zoroastrians and Sikhs, whereas in the case of Ahmadis, a separate voters list is being prepared. This discriminatory treatment on the basis of religion is a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise the Ahmadis of Pakistan from the electoral process and denying them their right to vote.”

He said under these circumstances, Ahmadis consider taking part in the elections against their faith. And if there is anyone who may be contesting these elections as an Ahmadi, then he cannot and should not be seen as a representative of the Ahmadiyya community as a whole and nor will any Ahmadi accept him as such, he added.