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LAHORE, May 5: Jama’at Ahmadiyya Pakistan has announced disassociation from the general elections 2013 in order to register protest over “worst kind of discrimination and bigotry in the form of separate voters list” for them.

“This is for the third time that Ahmadis have been singled out,” Jama’at spokesperson Saleemuddin said in a statement on Sunday.

“According to election rules, the basic eligibility for a voter is Pakistani citizenship and not the religious or ideological beliefs a citizen holds. The voter registration forms issued by Election Commission of Pakistan have a special entry for religion.

“It is important to note that for joint electorate there is supposed to be a single voter list for everyone. However, for 2002 and 2008 general elections special orders were issued to prepare separate voter lists for Ahmadis.

“Similarly, for the 2013 general election this was not changed rather the election commission in its guidelines for voter list preparation included the following as a special entry under clause No 12. 'Votes of Ahmadis should be added to a separate list in the initial voter lists and on top of the register page it should be written for Ahmadis only.’

“After implementation of the order, every Pakistani — Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Parsi, Muslim or belonging to any other religion — would be on a single list while there would be a separate list for Ahmadis. This is the worst kind of discrimination and bigotry and against the sayings of the founder of nation as well as the rights given in the Constitution of Pakistan and specifically against the spirit of joint electorate. It is also against the conventions on human rights that the state of Pakistan has signed. This is an intentional attempt to deprive Ahmadis, who are law-abiding citizens of Pakistan, of exercising their fundamental rights and to separate them from the national discourse,” said the statement.

It said the Jama’at had conveyed its concerns to the ECP in a specific meeting but unfortunately nothing had so far been done to address the grievances and genuine concerns of Ahmadis.

“Thus there is no choice left for Jama’at Ahmadiyya Pakistan and Ahmadis but to announce disassociation from general elections in order to register their protest,” concludes the statement.