The Riots of 1953 — Page 39
39 they belong as our religious duty. We have always acted upon this principle and shall, with the help of God, continue to act upon it in future. “It has been our constant endeavour to maintain good relations and tolerant attitude towards all men in general and all Muslims in particular and we shall, by the grace of God continue to do so in future and will keep away from all things likely to create unrest and will try that no wrong step on our party should create excitement in the minds of men. ’’ (The Civil & Military Gazette, Lahore, dated 17. 6. 53) 49. The Anjuman respectfully submits that the Ahmadiyya Community is a purely religious body and has nothing to do with politics. It has always been under stress of necessity that at times it has interested itself in politics. Left alone the Community has no other desire than to propagate Islam and convince the world that its salvation lies in the acceptance of Islam. Since, however, the Community has been ostensibly assailed on religious grounds it has been necessary to state above its beliefs and tenets inspite of the fact that this Hon’ble Court will not adjudicate on this aspect of the matter. That the religious beliefs and tenets of a community are not a matter for adjudication by a Court has been aptly put by the Hon’ble Mr. Justice Coldstream in the well known case of the Ahrar leader Syed Ataullah Shah Bokhari: “The merits and demerits of the Qadiani beliefs were not and could not in this case be a matter for the Courts considerations” (No. 182 and No. 225 of 1935 decided by the High Court on 11. 11. 35) In stating the religious beliefs of the Community, therefore, the Anjuman has in view only the desire to acquaint this Hon’ble Court with what the Community professes so that this Honoura- ble Court may be in a position to appreciate the political weapon