ISLAMABAD, May 25: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has declared that anyone who has the faith against “Khatm-i- Nabuwwat” (that Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) is the last prophet) is not a Muslim.

The president made this declaration, while responding to the points raised by some Ulema at the end of the National Seerat Conference held at a local hotel here on Saturday.

As the president was about to leave the dais, some Ulema rose from their seats and asked him to declare Qadianis as non-Muslims.

One of them said, “Mr President, the whole nation will support you if you declare that the joint electorate will be reversed to the separate one as it has led to strengthening the impression that it was aimed at violating the constitutional declaration about Qadianis.”

The president said, “We have to live in this world with certain policies as there are Hindus, Christians and other minorities living in this country as well.”

He asked the religious leaders to show some tolerance in their reaction, “as we have to take along the whole world.”

The president said, “I have talked to a number of heads of Muslim states, including Mahatir Mohammad of Malaysia and Abdur Rahman Wahid, ex-president of Indonesia, and found that all of them have different point of view on these questions.”

He advised the Ulema not to give the world an impression that Islam was a rigid religion and to show magnanimity in their views.

Gen Musharraf, however, assured the Ulema that their views would be considered and given weightage at an appropriate stage. He said everyone had sentiments about their faith and “I am not behind in this from anyone of you.”

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Dr Mehmud Ghazi told the people that the constitutional amendment declaring Qadianis as non-Muslims made in 1974 was still part of the constitution and it would remain so.