ASWJ chief’s name struck off Fourth Schedule

Party continues to remain on the proscribed organization list

ISLAMABAD: The removal of banned Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) chief Muhammad Ahmad Ludhianvi from the Fourth Schedule has led to speculation over the country’s policy to counter terrorism and violence.

Ludhianvi’s name was removed from the Fourth Schedule by the Punjab government after which the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) wrote to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for unfreezing his bank account.

However, ASWJ continues to be recognized as ‘proscribed organization’ in the record and documents maintained by Ministry of Interior or NACTA.

“Consequent upon de-notification of one individual that is Muhammad Ahmad Ludhyanvi’s name from Fourth Schedule by the Punjab Home Department and receiving official intimation from the said Home Department, NACTA wrote SBP to act further as required under the ATA Act,” NACTA stated on Thursday on being inquired in this regard.

Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) was declared banned outfit in the country on January 14 2002 when General (retd) Musharraf ruled Pakistan.

Earlier, another extremist sectarian group which was named as Sipah-e-Muhammad Pakistan (SMP) was also declared ‘proscribed’ by the government on August 14 2001. The two groups were banned in the country due to their alleged affiliation with sectarian based violence.

However, SSP remerged on the political landscape of the country with a new name ASWJ, which was again banned by the government on February 15 2012. According to sources in relevant quarters, the decision of de-notification of Ludhianvi from the Fourth Schedule was the result of a deal to provide him a chance to contest in the upcoming general elections.

Renowned political and security analyst Amir Rana told The Express Tribune that Ludhianvi’s name was put on the Fourth Schedule on the recommendation of the police. He said that the list of Fourth Schedule was sent for a review after which his name was removed from the list.

Rana said that he has learnt that Ludhianvi looks to contest the election as an independent candidate for the National Assembly seat from Jhang.

“There is ambiguity with regards to Fourth Schedule as what sort of rights get affected if someone’s name is placed on the list. It needs clarity which may only be made by court of law or specific laws should be made in this connection,” he added.

Rana said that Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Farhatullah Babar had presented a proposal that anyone on the Fourth Schedule should be considered ineligible to contest the elections but the proposal was not included in the law.

Defence analyst Brigadier (retd) Saeed Nazeer Mohmand said that the government wants to bring some proscribed organizations into mainstream affairs when they provide assurances that they would not indulge in activities which are against the law.

“Outfits involved in sectarian violence don’t have any grey area as they always have extreme views on their respective narrative. However, by putting them into mainstream affairs like allowing them to participate in election may be a useful tool to isolate them little bit from the activities for which they are mostly known,” he added.

Mohmand said that the removal of Ludhianvi’s name from the Fourth Schedule may also be an effort to get some political mileage in some constituencies by some quarters.  “Persons on Fourth Schedule have the right to cast vote and anyone who can cast vote may also contest elections,” he added.

It is learnt that Aurangzeb Farooqi who was head of ASWJ Sindh chapter is contesting from PS-91 and NA-238 Karachi.

There are a total of 7,779 persons who are on Fourth Schedule across the country out of which the data of 6,277 persons was shared with SBP after which 4,808 bank accounts of these persons were frozen which led to freezing of Rs39.138 million.