Daily Times

BUNIR: Renowned cleric Maulana Tayyab of Swabi Thursday announced support to Awami National Party (ANP) candidates in the upcoming general elections.

Maulana Tayyab announced this while addressing a huge gathering at a local religious school linked to the former in Bunir. Scores of ANP contenders were also present.

In his address, the noted scholar said that the Bacha Khan’s “non-violent movement was actually a religious movement”. “After the USSR invasion of Afghanistan, the party was hijacked by secular faces for their own interests,” he said, and claimed that the party was no more secular or liberal as it had kicked out such elements from its ranks.

“Today, Pakistan needs unity of all ideologues – mosque and hujra,” he said, and vowed to bridge the gap between the two.

ANP candidates while addressing the gathering acknowledged the “sacrifices” of Maulana Tayyab for the Islam. “We will support their preaching in Bunir after coming into power and resolve all issues pertaining to seminaries’ registration and others.”

It may be mentioned that Maulana Tayyab runs a chain of religious schools in Bunir which can influence the vote bank of the ANP in Bunir. Maulana Tayyab also talked to journalists shortly after addressing the gathering. Replying to a question that the ANP had always been a critic of Maulana Tayyab’s brother Major (r) Aamir’s role in the area, he said: “The ANP is no more a secular party, ergo we are supporting their candidates in Bunir. Later, ANP contenders in press conference added: “We are on same page with Tayyab and ANP will support and facilitate them in all issues in Bunir.”

Published in Daily Times, July 13^th 2018.