The Pakistan Tehrik i Insaaf (PTI) has approached the controversial Ahle Sunnat wal Jammat (ASWJ) for their support in the upcoming NA 53 by-elections in Islamabad.
In a tweet made by the social media handle of the ASWJ, the PTI’s candidate for the upcoming election, Ali Nawaz Awan, met with Maulana Abdul Rehman Muawiya and asked him for his endorsement in the upcoming elections. The PTI delegation led by Awan met Muawiya at the Rahmani Mosque in the Abpara area of the Federal Capital.
یاللہ مدد
پی ٹی آئی حلقہ NA:53 اسلام آباد کے امیدوارعلی نوازاعوان صاحب کی وفد کے ھمراء جامع مسجدرحمانی آبپارہ اسلام آباد آمداوررہنماء اہلسنّت والجماعت اسلام آباد مولانا عبدالرحمن معاویہ سے ملاقات حمایت کی درخواست کی@AbbTakk @geonews_urdu @PTIofficial pic.twitter.com/1sGuOozICI— ASWJ Official (@ASWJOfficialUR) October 2, 2018
According to the ASWJ’s spokesperson in Islamabad, the group has not yet reached a conclusion on giving support to any candidate and that the decision would be made after consultation with party leadership.
The NA 53 Islamabad seat had been contested by PTI Chairman and current Prime Minister Imran Khan, who had vacated it in favour of his home seat of NA 95 Mianwali. His opponent in the election had been former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.
Back in July, former PM Abbasi had also approached the ASWJ for their support in his election, and had received the group’s backing, but still did not manage to win the election
The ASWJ’s spokesperson said that support for Shahid Khaqan Abbasi did not automatically translate to support for whichever league candidate would be contesting the election. Abbasi had been given their support because of his promise to defend and work on legislation on the issue of Namoos e Sahaba.
Back then, there had been much controversy, with supporters and leaders of the PTI being chief proponents of the criticism leveled against Abbasi for seeking the ASWJ’s support.
The ASWJ, which had been banned until earlier this year, had backed the PTI in 70 constituencies in the July General elections, with Abbasi being one of the few PML-N candidates who had sought and gained the ASWJ’s endorsement.
The ASWJ is considered to have considerable support in some areas of the capital.
