CHAKWAL: The banned Ahle-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (AWSJ) organised a religious conference here on Sunday.

The conference was chaired by ASWJ’s district president Qari Asad Irfan, who is also placed in Schedule 4 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

The conference, held in Dhoke Aajri village of Qari Asad Irfan, was addressed by ASWJ’s central president Maulana Aurangzeb Farooqi on telephone from Saudi Arabia.

According to the law, a banned outfit cannot hold any activities openly. Besides, any person placed in the Schedule 4 of ATA cannot organise any event.

But the ASWJ not only advertised the event through banners but also got stories published in the local newspapers.

According to a press release issued by ASWJ on Monday, its district president Qari Asad Irfan demanded the opening of cases against the violators of the Ashura procession route last year.

The district administration hardly paid any heed to the gathering despite the fact that the conference was advertised through banners and the local press.

“Qari Asad Irfan is placed in schedule 4 and is the president of banned SSP and ASWJ.

“He had pledged in his surety bonds that he would not organise any event from the platform of SSP or ASWJ,” a letter sent to senior police officers by the counterterrorism department stated.

“The banners advertising the conference clearly stated that the event would be organised by ASWJ and would be chaired by Qari Asad Irfan,” an official of the department told Dawn.

The ASWJ was banned by the government on February 15, 2012.

When contacted, District Police Officer (DPO) Dr Moeen Masood said he would look into the matter.

“The ASWJ is banned and its district president Qari Asad Irfan is in schedule 4. The organisation holds its events under different pretexts,” the DPO maintained. But when the DPO was told about the open advertisement, he replied: “I will look into the matter.”

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play