A confident Ludhianvi claimed that in his constituency, his success is a given.
The ASWJ has been described as the political wing of the banned sectarian militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) which has claimed credit for most sectarian attacks on the Shia community in the country. The ASWJ, however, denies any links with violence. Ludhianvi is one of the main candidates from Jhang where he is contesting for two seats, one is the National Assembly seat NA-89, while the other is the Punjab Assembly seat PP-78. He is contesting from the platform of Muttahida Deeni Mahaz (MDM).
As The Express Tribune trailed Ludhianvi’s election campaign on Friday, it turned out to be a busy day. He focused his election campaign on various mosques of the city where he not only delivered sermon-cum-political speeches but also appealed for donations. They appeal for money in urban areas, and in rural areas for wheat as the wheat crop is being harvested. People seem willing to donate readily for Ludhianvi’s party.
Jamia Masjid Haq Nawaz Jhangvi is located in the middle of the city which is known as party’s central secretariat where Ludhianvi, party general secretary Khadim Hussain Dhallon and Sheikh Hakim Ali delivered their election speeches along with Friday sermons and collected thousands of rupees as ‘Party Chanda’.
A confident Ludhianvi claimed that in his constituency, his success is a given. He warned that if he finds out of any foul play as an attempt to defeat him, then he would take action.
Mutual understanding and future liaison
Ludhianvi’s arch-rival is PML-N’s Sheikh Waqas Akram. Ludhianvi said his objective of wanting to win this seat is to introduce a bill for the protection of dignity of the Caliphs, and he would be willing to extend his hand to any party which agrees on his agenda. Asked which party he predicted would be ready to cooperate, he said that he did not have any experience yet with PTI chief Imran Khan, and the one option left is PML-N. He also mentioned the development of Jhang on his agenda.
Bright chances and bitter rivalries
With PML-N’s two candidates, Sheikh Waqas Akram from NA-89 and Sheikh Yaqoob from PP-78 disqualified, Ludhianvi has a fair chance on both seats. The 40,000 Shia votes in this constituency seem divided among many candidates which gives Ludhianvi a further edge.
Sheikh Waqas Akram, who after his disqualification is running his father Sheikh Akram’s campaign, claimed that he would get Ludhianvi defeated by 60,000 votes, talking to The Express Tribune while sitting in his castle-like home in Civil Lines.
LeJ’s precursor, SSP, was founded here in 1985 and the head of ASWJ always lives in Jhang. Ludhianvi was formerly a SSP leader. However, Ludhianvi denies his party’s involvement with any kind of terrorism. According to ASWJ data, out of a total of its 130 contesting candidates for May 11 elections, 70 are for NA seats.
Unique Alliances
Ludhianvi’s new residence, located at Toba Road Station Chowk, in Jhang, is these days a happening place where deals are being struck between Ludhianvi and other candidates of various constituencies, regardless of their party affiliation.
An independent candidate for NA-156 Raza Hayat Hiraj met Ludhianvi recently to seek his support against PML-N candidate Fakhar Imam and requesting that ASWJ’s candidate Maulana Abdul Khaliq Rehmani be made to withdraw in his favour. The negotiations are still ongoing.
The sectarian factor
Ludhianvi affirmed that ASWJ’s ideology prohibits them to ask the Shia community to vote for them. However, MDM’s candidate Maulana Muhammad Asif Moavia Sial, who is contesting from NA-90 against PML-N’s Saima Akhtar Bherwana, has sought vote of the Shia community. Moavia, while sitting in mosque of village Kot Dewan, 25 kilometers away from Jhang, failed to defend this two-way policy of the ASWJ regarding the Shia community.
NA-89: The hub of ASWJ
NA-89 has long been an ASWJ hub. In 1988, when the organisation was known as SSP, its founder Haq Nawaz Jhangvi won 39,000 votes at NA-89, but lost out to Begum Abida Hussain. However, he vowed that Abida Hussain would quit the constituency. In 1990, Abida Hussain contested the election from elsewhere, though Jhangvi had been killed by then.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 6th, 2013.
COMMENTS (9)
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Islam invites people to unity but these takfiri extremists divide people. It is surprising that such hate spreader Takfiri Extremist are allowed to contest Elections. Pakistani Society is now divided and this lessen the chance for them to live together as one nation. This all indicate a very dangerous future for the country till some Pious Religious element Rise up and again unite our people.
My question to everyone,where is our leader? We have people trying to control us like a puppet from abroad. We have industrialists trying to rule us and blackmail us into doing things they want us to do. We Moulvi hazruts who preach politics and revenge and tell us to fight for shariya about which they themselves are not sure how to implement. We have singers and players coming forward to tell us that if they can be a CEO of a hospital so leading a country out of trouble will be as easy as ABC for them. We have some black boots in the waiting who intervene and try to numb our souls decade after decade by saying "Mere humwatoon" and making us a fool in the eyes of international community. I'm the youth of your nation.And all you've got for me is an atomic bomb and slogans of "roti kapra & makan"?
My question to everyone,where is our leader. We have people trying to control us like a puppet from abroad. We have industrialists trying to rule us and blackmail us into doing things they want us to do. We Moulvi hazruts who preach politics and revenge and tell us to fight for shariya about which they themselves are not sure how to implement. We have singers and players coming forward to tell us that if they can be a CEO of a hospital so leading a country out of trouble will be as easy as ABC for them. We have some black boots in the waiting who intervene and try to numb our souls decade after decade by saying "Mere humwatoon" and making us a fool in the eyes of international community. I'm the youth of your nation.And all you've got for me is an atomic bomb and slogans of "roti kapra & makan"?
Absolutely sickening.
O' Carol, we people are fools. We love men who promise everything and give us nothing. We do not love our Creator even though He gives us everything. O' Carol we people are fools. We rally round a man who cannot give us anything except words. We rally NOT round the Lord who gives us everything. O' Carol we people are fools, we shall remain fools. We shall remain fools for all time to come and pay the price for our le follies.
the trust this foul party has for the PMLN and PTI shows that the future will be immensley dark when godforbid these animals come in power! AND THE SILENECE OF THE MAJORITY IN THIS IS EVEN MORE fearsome! banned orgnaizatiosn are alllowed to continue, mosques are used and still there is no action!
I wonder how a banned organization head is allowed to contest in election. He is openly using religion and sectarian divide to gain votes against ECP guidelines.
Laughing at Sheikh waqas akram....the man was an education minister during this time.And was found out to be a B.A. with out an A level.Must have contributed a lot in the betterment of education system. On the other hand helpless Jamshed dasti got the attention of the whole media,just because he wasn't a wadera who could muscle his way out, his party also kept quite instead of supporting his cause.Meanwhile the reals culprits like Mr.Ex. education minister kept ruling before our eyes. It's good that we are gradually rectifying our lines from the back sheep and the corrupt. It'll will be a long process.All we need to do is give it it's due time for evolution.
It is not surprising that this extremist leader is running his campaign from the mosques while they don't want the elected president to get president house involved in politics! Mosques could be used for political purposes but other buildings not. No matter what this SSP member says he is going to ally himself with one of the two rightist parties of Punjab. Independent EC, judiciary and neutral caretaker are doing a great job to give license to the extremists to take over the elections.