ASWJ protests continue over killing of Rawalpindi spokesman

RAWALPINDI: Workers and supporters of Ahl-e-Sunnat-Wal Jamat (ASWJ) continue to stage a sit-in on Constitution Avenue in Islamabad over the killing of Mazhar Siddiqui a spokesman for the Jamat.

Mazhar Siddiqui was gunned down in Rawalpindi on Sunday morning hours after ASWJ central president Aurangzaib Farooqi survived an attack on his life in Karachi on Saturday night.

ASWJ workers and office bearers continue their sit-in with a heavy presence of police, rangers, armoured personnel carriers and ambulances to deal with any untoward incident.

It is expected that Maulana Ahmed Ludhianvi the chief of the ASWJ will address the crowd on Constitution Avenue and will lead the funeral prayers for Siddiqui, after which the body will be taken to Murree for burial.

ASWJ workers clashed with police on Constitution Avenue late in the afternoon, forcing law enforcers to use tear gas to control the crowd that was been rallied to march onto the Supreme Court.

Earlier, the ASWJ confirmed the death of Mazhar Siddiqui identifying him as their Rawalpindi spokesman. He came under attack from unknown gunmen as he was travelling in his car near Pirwadhai Mor in Rawalpindi.

Siddiqui succumbed to his wounds while another person was severely injured in the attack.

Farooqi Attack

The ASWJ central president Maulana Auranzaib Farooqi was travelling from Qauidabad towards Nagan Chowrangi on Saturday night when his convoy came under attack from gunmen who had taken positions on top of the bridge.

ASWJ spokesperson Umer Mauviya said Farooqi escaped unhurt from the attack but three of his guards were injured in the firing incident. Farooqi, however, denied that any of his guards were injured.

Farooqi has survived multiple attacks on his life. Two of his bodyguards were injured in a 2013 attack (also in Korangi area), while six people including policemen lost their lives in a 2012 attack on Farooqi.

The ASWJ leader has been demanding he be provided police security, which was recently withdrawn.