Ahmadis not to vote in protest !!

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Now you know kind of democracy we will have!

http://www.dawn.com/2002/09/11/nat17.htm

By Our Reporter

KARACHI, Sept 10: Ahmadis of Pakistan have decided to stay away from voting in October elections because they have serious reservations to the transfer of their names to the list designated for non-Muslims.

In a letter addressed to the President, Malik Khalid Masood, Nazir of Umoor-i-Amma, Anjuman Ahmadiyya Pakistan, has said the government has all of a sudden and without any valid reason, revised its correct and truly democratic decision of having only one common list of voters.

As a consequence of this revision only Ahmadis have been excluded from the common list and their names have been transferred to a list designated as a non-Muslim list, he claimed.

The community feels that “this strange measure has resulted in a ridiculous situation in which there is a common list of voters which contains the names of all the Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Christians and Buddhist voters and a second list termed as non-Muslim list, comprising Ahmadis only.”

The letter added that it is their contention that this procedure adopted by the Election Commission is directed against the community alone and is flagrantly discriminatory and against all principles of justice and democracy.

He claimed that there has been no change in the electoral system to justify a change in the position taken by the Ahmadis in the last elections.

The community finds it “against their conscience to participate in an election which is not on joint electorate system and which negates fundamental principles of democracy and is detrimental to national integration and harmony.”

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Shamraz bhai or any other member on this board...
as a Non-Pakistani my question is - whats the purpose behind establishing a non-muslim list ? do they have separate polling booths? or they have seats reserved for them in the electoral college..

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by oursoulsatpeace: *
Shamraz bhai or any other member on this board...
as a Non-Pakistani my question is - whats the purpose behind establishing a non-muslim list ? do they have separate polling booths? or they have seats reserved for them in the electoral college..
[/QUOTE]

The actual facts are funny. Pakistan used to have separate electoral seats for non-muslims after Zia's Islamisation of the body politic. Under pressure from the west, Musharaff agreed to remove that and have a "joint electorate" for muslims and non-muslims. So only one voting list was issued. This was not acceptable to some of the Islamic party supporters of someone in the establishment. They wanted to retain the oath that was administered to Ahemadiyyas, and they reinstituted it. People pointed out that there was no aim in doing that with joint electorates. So the result is that you have list of Non-muslim Ahamediyyas and another list for muslims and other non-muslims. Is this crazy or what?

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This is not a real elction anyways. Mush is doing more rigging than anyone in teh history of Pak.

So much for his promise of 'real democracy'. Shouldn;t be surprised really, he's just a crooked dictator only interested in keeping himslef in power.

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The last time Ahmadis voted was in the election of 71. :) The reporter is a bit off by 20 years in reporting it.

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Well if Musharraf is going to pass himself off as secular then he needs to deal with this as well I guess.

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Thats just stupid-there shouldnt be such a discrimanatory law against non muslims in the nation at all, and yet to further diuscriminate against one group is just .........

Ah!

Makes me very angry.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by mo_best: *
Thats just stupid-there shouldnt be such a discrimanatory law against non muslims in the nation at all, and yet to further diuscriminate against one group is just .........

Ah!

Makes me very angry.
[/QUOTE]

Having Separate seats/elections make sure that they get representation in govt/assemblies. If there are no separate seats they cant get the representation in 98% muslim dominated country. So this just ensures that they are properly represented which is good in a way.

and by the way now they non-muslims will have 2 votes. One on regular elections and 2nd on non-muslims elections.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by BAYWAQOOF: *
Having Separate seats/elections make sure that they get representation in govt/assemblies. If there are no separate seats they cant get the representation in 98% muslim dominated country. So this just ensures that they are properly represented which is good in a way.

and by the way now they non-muslims will have 2 votes. One on regular elections and 2nd on non-muslims elections.
[/QUOTE]

It also restrict them to that one (or two) seats. That means that you cannot have more than one Hindu or Christian in Assembly cos there are only one or two reserved seats.

The separate electorate is said to be done for the benefit of the religious minorities but in fact its done to restrict them. And so the minorities have always protested aganist it & have always supported the the joint electorate.

Ahmadis have two groups. The group from Lahore which made the statement in the initial post does take part in elections & in the political sphere of life of Pakistan.

The other group, which is far more bigger in number, does not.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ahmadjee: *

It also restrict them to that one (or two) seats. That means that you cannot have more than one Hindu or Christian in Assembly cos there are only one or two reserved seats.

The separate electorate is said to be done for the benefit of the religious minorities but in fact its done to restrict them. And so the minorities have always protested aganist it & have always supported the the joint electorate.

Ahmadis have two groups. The group from Lahore which made the statement in the initial post does take part in elections & in the political sphere of life of Pakistan.

The other group, which is far more bigger in number, does not.
[/QUOTE]

and what do you think is better for minority NO REPRESENTATION AT ALL all or CONFIRMED REPRESENTATION? Coz i cant see for next 50/100 years any non muslim winning on general seat and thats because constituencies are so spreaded and large that its next to impossible to for any non-muslim to win.

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All Ahmedis will not vote?? If so, this shows they are very united... I wish we could get an example out of their unity...

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First of all the person who opened this thred …yar dont get us into a fight, our common enemy are the indians :hehe:
It is imposible that mushy has such a non secular attitude …u r quoting this from dawn …Please remember that dawn was the news paper that were a “bijli choor” electricity theieve…so any thing out of their mouth will be hatred and anger …typical karachi bhaia …atitude…but mushy is extreemly secular and he is extreemly moderate.

I LUV Ahmadis and they love me …we are all PAKISTANIS thats whats important.

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Ahmedis actually voted in the Referandum because they thought the General was trying to help them. Typical of the Pakistani elite to use the Ahmedis for their gains but abandon them when they no longer need their support. Still, I dont blame Musharaf.. I realize the power these Mullahs wield, and dont blame him for not wanting to rock the boat at this time...
Still, its deeply saddening that Ahmedis are given such disrespect...We should remember that MANY Ahmedis were strong supporters in the creation of Pakistan, in fact, the head of the Ahmedi community also left Quadian which is now in India, and which was the birthplace of Ahmediyaat, to live in Pakistan. Where as the many of the same "relgious parties" which are in the forefront of the anti Ahmedi groups such as Jamaat Islamia etc etc, were against the creation of Pakistan. How Ironic that those that supported Pakistan are now third class citizens, while those that were against it now wield so much power.
Its difficult to be an Ahmedi and be Patriotic at the same time, I mean what is their to be patriotic about? My reply to this is that Pakistan is my homeland, and we dont support what Pakistan is today, but rather, the Pakistan that had been the dream of a man named Mohammad Ali Jinnah. It makes me sick when I see how the enemies of Pakistan have turned the dream into a nightmare.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Adnan Ahmed: *
Ahmedis actually voted in the Referandum because they thought the General was trying to help them. Typical of the Pakistani elite to use the Ahmedis for their gains but abandon them when they no longer need their support. Still, I dont blame Musharaf.. I realize the power these Mullahs wield, and dont blame him for not wanting to rock the boat at this time...
Still, its deeply saddening that Ahmedis are given such disrespect...We should remember that MANY Ahmedis were strong supporters in the creation of Pakistan, in fact, the head of the Ahmedi community also left Quadian which is now in India, and which was the birthplace of Ahmediyaat, to live in Pakistan. Where as the many of the same "relgious parties" which are in the forefront of the anti Ahmedi groups such as Jamaat Islamia etc etc, were against the creation of Pakistan. How Ironic that those that supported Pakistan are now third class citizens, while those that were against it now wield so much power.
Its difficult to be an Ahmedi and be Patriotic at the same time, I mean what is their to be patriotic about? My reply to this is that Pakistan is my homeland, and we dont support what Pakistan is today, but rather, the Pakistan that had been the dream of a man named Mohammad Ali Jinnah. It makes me sick when I see how the enemies of Pakistan have turned the dream into a nightmare.
[/QUOTE]

Adnan bhai, the Mollahs have no power... They are a thing of the past, and we, the people of Pakistan consider Ahmedis as our countrymen and brothers... Its your decision to vote or not, but you should do what you think is good for you...

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Its great that there are so many supporters of Ahmedis, but the sad fact is that despite everyones good intentions, Ahmedis are still treated like low class citizens. The clerics obviously have far more influence then we would like to admit, since even now, after bringing into effect the joint electorate, Ahmedis have once again been deprived of thier rights.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Adnan Ahmed: *
Its great that there are so many supporters of Ahmedis, but the sad fact is that despite everyones good intentions, Ahmedis are still treated like low class citizens. The clerics obviously have far more influence then we would like to admit, since even now, after bringing into effect the joint electorate, Ahmedis have once again been deprived of thier rights.
[/QUOTE]

No they are not... If the clerics and the fundos had any say, I would be living with a fat beard and without cable/internet in my house ;)

Adnan, you do agree that we, the common people of Pakistan have no fear of being killed etc when we step out of our house in Pakistan right? And since you and I are similar, how would you get discriminated? To hell with one voting thing yar, tell me, how have you been discriminated?? If I see a religion cleric doing that to you just because you happen to be Ahmadi, I would be the first one to protest and support you.

You yourself said when you visited Pakistan, you had a great time, and didnt talk of any discrimination. What happened in the past is in the past, let us forget that and live on like brothers.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Spock: *

No they are not... If the clerics and the fundos had any say, I would be living with a fat beard and without cable/internet in my house ;)

Adnan, you do agree that we, the common people of Pakistan have no fear of being killed etc when we step out of our house in Pakistan right? And since you and I are similar, how would you get discriminated? To hell with one voting thing yar, tell me, how have you been discriminated?? If I see a religion cleric doing that to you just because you happen to be Ahmadi, I would be the first one to protest and support you.

You yourself said when you visited Pakistan, you had a great time, and didnt talk of any discrimination. What happened in the past is in the past, let us forget that and live on like brothers.
[/QUOTE]

Well, I seriously hope your right. I agree that comman people dont have a fear of being hurt, I mean, I think people are safer in KArachi then they are in New York sometimes. But the thing is, in Pakistan I didnt walk around with a big sign that said Ahmedi on it, so I dont really know how people would react if they were to find out. Most of my Family hides the fact, they dont even mention the word Ahmedi out loud. They are afraid the landlord, who can be an amazingly gentle, kind, and wise person normally, may kick them out of their flat for being Ahmedi.
I have an Uncle who swears that Ahmedis dont have a problem and the situation is blown out of proportion. Infact he usually tells people he is Ahmedi because according to him, they will be angry later on when they discover you hid that fact from them.
I personally haven;t been discriminated against, but my family has been. One of my Uncles was a Brigadier, but couldnt advance because he was an Ahmedi. Another cousin tried to join the Army but was refused because of his relgious beliefs. Im all for forgeting the past, but the sad truth is that discrimination against Ahmedis is not past, but rather a present. Regardless, Im an optamist, I think the situation can only improve. Eventually, Pakistanis will themselves realize what they are doing is wrong, and then perhaps all Ahmedis can count themselves as respected members of Pakistan, not as a minority, but just as Pakistanis.