An extremist sectarian outfit, which was banned in Pakistan till last month, has extended its support to former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the elections after the veteran PML-N leader visited its local office and sought electoral support, a media report said today.
Abbasi, who had served as the prime minister following the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif by the Supreme Court in July last year, is contesting for a National Assembly seat against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan.
The former prime minister visited the local office of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), formerly known as Sipah-e-Sahaba, on July 10 and sought its support in the elections, the Express Tribune reported.
The ASWJ leaders had told Abbasi that they would consider his request and consult their higher leadership on the matter. This week, ASWJ Islamabad unit announced its electoral support to Abbasi in NA-53 constituency, the paper said.
"Yes, we have announced our support for Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. He had sought our support and visited us on July 10 and again today," an ASWJ spokesperson told the paper.
The former prime minister had "assured them of working for legislation on the issue of 'Namoos-e-Sahaba' (sanctity and honour of the companions of the Prophet)", the paper quoted the spokesperson as saying.
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The party, however, clarified that the support was only for Abbasi. "It doesn't mean we would support them (PML-N) on other seats in Islamabad or elsewhere too," the spokesperson added.
Last month, Pakistan lifted a ban on the ASWJ and unblocked assets of its chief Maulana Ahmed Ludhianvi, in a surprise decision hours before the country was placed on the 'grey list' by the Financial Action Task Force for failing to curb anti-terror financing.
In 1990s, the Sipah-e-Sahaba was actively involved in a number of high profile attacks on scholars, mosques and gatherings of the minority Shia community. The groups was banned by the military dictator General Pervez Musharraf in 2002. The group reemerged under the name of ASWJ.
The ASWJ chief is also the Joint Secretary of Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC), whose central leadership includes Mumbai attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed.