The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council has made signature on the finality of the Prophethood certificate mandatory for the new provincial lawyers, seeking licences for practicing the profession.

The new lawyers shall declare in writing that they do not belong to any “Qadiani or Lahori group (who attribute themselves to Ahmadi or any other group),” said the circular by the KP Bar Council secretary on Wednesday.

The decision was taken during a meeting KP Bar Council Executive Committee on May 3. It was presided over by the body’s chairman Syed Mubashir Shah.

The 1974 constitutional amendment defined who could be called a Muslim and who is a non-Muslim. Anyone who does not believe in the finality of the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon Him) is not a Muslim.

The amendment specifically states that “persons of Qadiani group or the Lahori group (who call themselves ‘Ahmadis’)” were non-Muslims.

In July 2022, the-then Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi directed that new forms with ‘Khatam-a-Nabuwat’ declaration be included for couples to get married in the province.

He instructed the issuance of new forms containing the affidavit of the Finality of Prophethood (PBUH) to the marriage registrar. He ordered strict action against those who do not give new forms.

“This issue had been going on for a long time,” KP Bar Council Executive Committee Chairman Syed Mubashir Shah told Aaj News. “According to our 1973 Constitution, Qadianis were declared non-Muslims; a special amendment was made in 1974.”

He supported the body’s move by saying that a similar declaration was given while making a national identity card, taking an oath that an individual completely believes in the Khatam-a-Nabuwat.

But he added that complaints were being received in the legal fraternity and “such kind of issues” were being raised. For this reason, the KP Bar Council had a detailed discussion, and a circular was issued.

“So that we can identify in our community that what kind of people are joining our field,” he said while explaining the need for the decision. “So this was the purpose and this is a constitutional and legal matter and our constitutional and legal right.”

Shah added that a separate mechanism was being formed for incumbent lawyers, who would have to submit their declaration while renewing their cards in a “timeframe”. There was no Ahmadi on record, he said, adding that if someone secretly hiding their identity was a “separate matter”.

If a complaint was received, it would be investigated and asked to give the declaration, he said. “The declaration was not applicable to non-Muslims.”