Ludhianvi vows to go to assemblies, despite losing elections

ASWJ chief says anyone who tries to create a hurdle in his way would be responsible for unrest in Jhang.

LAHORE: Despite losing the elections in NA-89 Jhang, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) Chief Maulana Ahmed Ludhianvi said that he would go to the assemblies, and anyone who tried to create a hurdle in his way would be responsible for unrest in Jhang.

The ASWJ chief had lost the elections to PML-N's Sheikh Muhammad Akram in a close contest in which Akram got 74,324 to Ludhianvi's 71,598.

While addressing a gathering of about 2,000 people at Jamia Manzoorul Islamia, Ludhianvi claimed he had won the elections for one National Assembly and one provincial assembly seat, but the government “engineered” his defeat for numerous reasons including involvement by the United States and Iran.

He claimed Iran gave an ultimatum to the government, threatening an end to the gas contract if he [Ludhianvi] came into the assemblies.

Ludhianvi said he would move the court against his engineered defeat, claiming that a recount of votes would prove he won two seats. He alleged that he secured more than 72,000 votes.

Issuing numerous warnings, the ASWJ chief said the upcoming government should be careful about interfering with the seminaries, else they [the government] would face the same fate as their predecessors. He also spoke openly against Shias.

Other speakers at the gathering including ASWJ leader Molana Qari Mansoor and Doctor Sher Ali Shah talked about the need for jihad training in seminaries, how the study of English has no importance for Muslims and that it is the responsibility of the government to set up seminaries in every city and village and introduce “caliphate” in the country.