*ISLAMABAD: *Islamabad chapter of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) hasannounced to support former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of PakistanMuslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the general elections, scheduled for July 25.
Abbasi is contesting for a National Assembly seat for Islamabad againstPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan.
The decision was made after the former premier visited the Islamabad officeof the extremist sectarian group, formerly known as Sipah-e-Sahaba on July10 and requested the party to support him in the elections.
The ASWJ leaders had told Abbasi that they would consider his request andconsult their higher leadership on the matter. On Monday, ASWJ Islamabadannounced its electoral support to Abbsi in NA-53 constituency.
“Yes, we have announced our support for Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. He had soughtour support and visited us on July 10 and again today,” an ASWJspokesperson told *The Express Tribune*. The spokesperson said the formerprime minister had assured them of working for legislation on the issue of‘Namoos-e-Sahaba’ (sanctity and honour of the companions of the ProphetPBUH).
The party, however, clarified that the support was only for Abbasi andlimited to NA-53 constituency only. “It doesn’t mean we would support themon other seats in Islamabad or elsewhere too,” the spokesperson added.
Last month, the government had ordered to unfreeze assets of Maulana AhmedLudhianvi and removed a ban on his ASWJ movement. A notification by theNational Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA) was issued on June 276 on therecommendations of the Punjab home department in this regard.
Despite the ban being lifted, many of its leaders are contesting theelections either as independent candidates or under the banner of otherparties.