ISLAMABAD - The National Assembly Thursday unanimously passed amendments to ‘the Election Act 2017’ to reinstate clauses 7A and 7B related to the finality of the prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH).

The amendment, moved by Law Minister Zahid Hamid, incorporates and reaffirms the provisions of articles 7B and 7C of the Conduct of General Elections Order, 2002, restoring the law about Khatm-e-Nabuwat to its original form.

The declaration and oath mentioned in the bill says: “I (name of voter) do solemnly swear that I believe in the absolute and unqualified prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him), the last of the prophets and that I am not the follower of anyone who claims to be a prophet in any sense of the word or of any description whatsoever after Prophet Muhammad, and that I do not recognise such a claimant to be prophet or a religious reformer, nor do I belong to the Qadiani group or the Lahori group or call myself an Ahmadi”.

Section 7B states “the status of Ahmadis would remain as stated in the Constitution of Pakistan”, while Section 7C states that “if an enrolled voter’s belief in the finality of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) prophethood is contended, they shall have to sign a declaration stating so, failing which their name shall be deleted from the joint electoral rolls and added to a supplementary list of voters in the same electoral area as non-Muslim”.

Speaking on the bill, the law minister paid tribute to all parliamentary political party for agreeing to unanimously pass it.

Zahid said that the Khatm-e-Nabuwat declaration has been restored to original form in English and Urdu through the amendment in the law.

He further said that the amended bill will make the clauses relating to finality of prophethood more effective and a separate voters list will be created for Ahmadis as they will not be included in the list of Muslim voters.

About the allegations by some religious quarters and the demand of his resignation over the controversy, Hamid said all the allegations are baseless as he can never even imagine insulting the sentiments of Muslims.

The minister assured the house that he and his family “were Muslims and believed in the finality of prophethood”. He added that “my family and I are ready to lay our lives for the honour of Prophet Muhammad.”

He said, “I am a staunch lover of the Prophet (PBUH) and have performed two haj and several Umras… I can’t even think about changing the clauses on Khatm-e-Nabuwat.”

While Hamid was pleading his innocence in the whole affair, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal intervened, telling the law minister there was no need on his part to prove his belief to anyone.

He took the floor saying that faith was a personal matter; it was between a person and the Almighty Allah. “Should we go anywhere to announce that we are Muslims,” he asked, adding that parliament and government will stand to defend it.

The house also saw exchange of hot words between Ahsan Iqbal and AML chief Sheikh Rashid on the matter.

Sheikh Rashid demanded that a report of the committee headed by Raja Zafarul Haq to probe the matter regarding the controversy be presented in the house. He raised objection over Ahsan Iqbal’s comments, mentioning he started speaking without knowing anything. “Zahid Hamid did not issue the statement on anyone’s behest and it was his own opinion, he added.

Khatm-e-Nabuwat clauses restored in original form