While some criticized the DPO for presenting awards to leaders of sectarian outfits, others pointed out that the shields had been distributed among local clerics for maintaining peace and harmony during the month of Muharram.
https://twitter.com/asadgokal/status/1434221786519019521?s=20
ASWJ chief Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi was among those who were presented certificates at the ceremony. Police have not offered any comment on the issue.
https://twitter.com/Aadeeeez/status/1434617869598347266?s=20
It is important to recall that in June 2018, the government ordered to unfreeze assets of Ludhianvi and removed a ban on ASWJ. Ludhianvi is the chief of ASWJ, a proscribed sectarian extremist group, formerly known as Sipah-e-Sahaba. He became the head of ASWJ after the death of Ali Sher Haidri in a 2009 ambush. Ludhianvi, who is also the Joint Secretary of Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC), was allowed to operate his bank accounts which were frozen on the recommendation of Punjab home department. He was also free to travel abroad as a ban on his movement was lifted. He is also allowed to avail purchase and carry arms after securing license from the competent authority. His computerised national identity card, which been put on the Fourth Schedule, was also unblocked and he is allowed to use it for sale and purchase of movable and immoveable properties.
https://twitter.com/Mustafa_Rizvii/status/1434586195158241280?s=20