JNN 09 Mar 2012 Islamabad : The Government of Pakistan has discreetly banned the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), Previously banned as Sipah e Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) , early Saturday morning.

As the Correspondent described , a notification issued by the Interior Ministry two weeks ago, the ASWJ was suspected to have been involved in terrorism related activities of the Sipah-e-Sahaba, the defunct terror group.

The new notification, unannounced publicly, has been issued based on schedule-one of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

According to the copies of the notification available with the BBC, authorities in all four provinces have been alerted to the change in status.

The BBC claims it repeatedly tried to get a version from Interior Minister Rehman Malik, but to no avail.

The News reports that the recently issued notification also includes the names People’s Amn Committee and TNA Gilgit.

The ASWJ chief Maulana Ahmed Ludhianvi said he was not aware of the ban. He, however, made it a point that if such a ban exists, it would be challenged in court.

Last month, the US had said that they believed the Jamaatud Dawa (JuD), which, like the ASWJ operates under the banner of Difa-e-Pakistan Council, was a front for militant group like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, a banned militant group just like the Sipah-e-Sahaba. The US also called for curbs to be placed on JuD head Hafiz Saeed.

None of the offices of the ASWJ have been sealed by the government so far, Ludhianvi told The Express Tribune, adding that no official documentation had been sent to them and they found out about the ban via the BBC Urdu report.

ASWJ is a member organization of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council, which has been organising rallies across the country. The Multan DPC rally was hosted by the ASWJ and was also attended by Malik Ishaq, the co-founder of banned Terrorist Outfit , working as the Terrorist wing of Sipah e Sahaba , Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Information Secretary Anwar Niazi says they will condemn any attempt by the authorities to ban ASWJ. The political party is also a member of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council.

Jamaatud Dawa spokesperson Yahya Mujahid issued a statement condemning the ban

ASWJ is also allegedly known as the political wing of the banned Terrorist outfit Sipah-e-Sahaba, known for its sectarian ideology and violence.

The secretariat in Lahore, Farooq-e-Azam, has also been host to addresses by several members of ASWJ and speakers affiliated with banned outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.

During a conference on September 7, 2011, banners with the name of Sipah-e-Sahaba were put up on the walls of the secretariat and speeches inciting violence against the Shia community were given by the speakers.

Ludhianvi also went to the Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore, with armed ASWJ guards to receive Malik Ishaq on his release after imprisonment of more than a decade.  Members of ASWJ had welcomed Ishaq and showered him with rose-petals at the jail’s gate

Civil Society have welcomed the Ban on the Terrorist out fit , as there was being Protest at all forum and Demonstration against the Terrorist activities of these Organisation , who have once again trying to resurface , under the Umbrella of “ Defence of Pakistan Council ” , and are actively working to give legitimacy to their terrorist activities .

A Demonstration was also organized by the Civil Society in the HashtNagri area of  Peshawar  , against the Latest announcement of a Public Meeting By the so called “ Defence of Pakistan Council ” . The Participants chanted Slogans , against the Member Organisation of the “ Defence of Pakistan Council ” , and also condemned their activities, they said that the Khyber – Pukhtoonkhwa , Province is already facing great difficulties , because of the Terrorism , and they ll not allow , these terrorist Organisations to come with New Names , when Peace is limping back again in the Province , as the terrorist hide Outs are been cleansed in Swat and other areas , so they will never allow these terrorist Jihadi Organisation to take a cover of the Political Parties , and again start their Sectarian and Terrorist acitivities.

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