LAHORE: Punjab government on Friday termed a news-item published in a section of the press with regard to participation of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) in the elections of 2018 as baseless, beyond facts and misguided.
According to a statement issued here, Punjab government spokesperson made it clear that ASWJ was a banned outfit and it had no permission to carry out any sort of activities.
“The law enforcement agencies have initiated legal action under Anti- Terrorism Act 1997 for violating the law and all the offices of this outfit have been sealed,” said the spokesman, adding that the name of Maulana Ahmed Ludhianvi was not included in the fourth schedule under Anti-Terrorism Act, therefore, the law did not stop anybody, whose name was not included in the fourth schedule, to take part in the elections.
On Wednesday, it was reported that the government had ordered to unfreeze the assets of Maulana Ahmed Ludhianvi and removed the ban placed on his movement – ASWJ.
According to reports, National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA) on Wednesday had issued a notification in this regard following the recommendations of Punjab’s home department.
The ASWJ chief, who is also the joint secretary of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC), was reportedly allowed to operate his bank accounts which were frozen on the recommendation of the same department earlier.
Reports claimed that Ludhianvi was also free to travel abroad following the notification, and he had been allowed to purchase and carry arms after securing a licence from the competent authority.