New alliance of religious groups formed

LAHORE: Three religious groups of Ahle Hadith school of thought have joined hands to form a political alliance under the name of Ahle Hadith Ittehad Council (AHIC) and contest next elections from a single platform.

Our doors are open for other Ahle Hadith parties like Jamiat Ahle Hadith (Sajid Mir group) and Jamaat ud Dawa, and we will strive for protecting Islamic articles of the Constitution and Blasphemy laws, said AHIC president Maulana Ziaullah Shah Bukhari and others while addressing a press conference at Lahore Press Club on Thursday.

He said the decision to field a joint candidate in the by election of NA-120 would be taken after consultations among the AHIC. Other office-bearers of AHIC including president Abdul Ghaffar Rupari, patron Mufti Ubaidullah Afif, Gen Secretary Hafiz Ibtesam Elahi Zaheer, Abdul Wahab Rupari, Hesham Elahi Zaheer, Shakilur Rehman Nasir, Muhammad Ali Yazdani etc.

Replying to queries, they said AHIC would strive for protecting the Islamic Ideology of Pakistan, articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution, and corruption, terrorism, unemployment etc. They said it would support operation Raddul Fasad of army and its efforts to eliminate terrorism in the country.