Reputed 'terrorist' running for office in pakistan

SAEED SHAH
February 8, 2008
theglobeandmail.com

JHANG, PAKISTAN — The reputed leader of a banned Islamic militant group is standing in Pakistan's coming general election, despite the country's key role in Washington's war on terrorism.

Mohammad Ahmad Ludhianvi is standing as an "independent" in the central town of Jhang, in Punjab province, but he is thought to be the head of the proscribed extremist organization Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan.

Maulana (religious leader) Ludhianvi stands a very good chance of winning in polls scheduled for Feb. 18, according to locals. SSP was founded in 1985 in Jhang, where it still enjoys its strongest following.

"This is al-Qaeda constituency," said Sheikh Waqas, Maulana Ludhianvi's main opponent and the incumbent member of parliament for the constituency. "I am under threat of suicide bombing."

"He [Maulana Ludhianvi] is a terrorist," alleged Mr. Waqas, who campaigns with 12 private gunmen and five armed police officers. "How can a party be banned and the chief allowed to stand? This is a joke."

Maulana Ludhianvi's name appears in a part of Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Act known as the Fourth Schedule. That means that he is on the terrorist watch list. He has not been convicted of any terrorism-related offences but about a dozen cases are outstanding against him.

Kunwar Dilshad, secretary of the election commission in Islamabad that regulates the polling process, said the Interior Ministry had failed to provide them with the names of those on the Fourth Schedule. He added that a complaint against Maulana Ludhianvi to the constituency returning officer should have been made at the time that he lodged his nomination papers. "No one complained," Mr. Dilshad said.

Amir Rana, director of the Pak Institute for Peace Studies in Islamabad, said that Maulana Ludhianvi is the undeclared leader of SSP.

Maulana Ludhianvi, in an interview during campaigning visits in the constituency, said that he was standing as an independent, not as a member or head of SSP. While denying his links to SSP, Maulana Ludhianvi did heap praise on past leaders of the group, and also said that "we" have filed a court petition challenging the ban on the SSP.

"We hate terrorism," said Maulana Ludhianvi, who was travelling with three gunmen. "People cannot love extremists as they love us."

As he toured the constituency, the maulana stressed practical, everyday concerns rather than any austere religious message. He pledged to bring gas to every home and establish a university for Jhang.

Back in the town centre, bookstore owner Khuram Saeed, said: "In Jhang, the vote is either pro-SSP or anti-SSP. The group's 40,000 vote bank is intact. It's just a question of whether the 65,000 or 70,000 anti-vote gets divided."