ISLAMABAD, April 13: Lal Masjid Khatib Maulana Abdul Aziz has appealed to ulema and the people to enforce Sharia in their areas and launch a peaceful campaign for Islamic system in the country.

“Enforcement of Islamic system is the job of the government, but it will be done by ulema if the government fails,” Maulana Aziz said in his Friday sermon.

While declaring that he would continue to hold talks with the government, he ruled out any flexibility on the issue of enforcement of Sharia. “We will not budge an inch from our principled stand on the enforcement of Islamic system,” he said.

Describing the attitude of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain as ‘positive’, he said he prayed that more such people with love for Islam come forward. He said Chaudhry Shujaat also had expressed concern over adultery and growing obscenity.

He, however, said the attitude of some ministers was negative. He specifically mentioned the threat of an operation being frequently issued by Minister for Religious Affairs Muhammad Ejazul Haq. He said he had no animosity towards Gen Pervez Musharraf and the government.

He said his campaign for Sharia would be peaceful. “But this policy of keeping the door open for talks and launching a peaceful campaign must not be misconstrued as a sign of our weakness,” he stressed.

Maulana Abdul Aziz said a large number of ulema were supporting the campaign and thousands of them had given assurances to work for the cause. He said a large number of students will take part in the campaign.

Commenting on the decision of Wafaqul Madaris to de-affiliate Lal Masjid he said the students were ready to sacrifice their lives. They were not against Wafaqul Madaris, but against the system. He appealed to elders to guide him if some other means could be adopted to bring about a change.

Later, talking to Dawn, Principal of Jamia Hafsa Ghazi Abdul Rasheed denied reports that a decision had been taken to make the Qazi Court established in the Lal Masjid non-functional in order to create an atmosphere conducive to talks. He said the court continued to receive complaints and scrutinise them.