ISLAMABAD, Oct 31: A local court on Monday acquitted Maulana Abdul Aziz chief cleric of Lal Masjid from four cases and also reserved judgment on two other cases for November 2. Judicial Magistrate of Islamabad Kashif Qayyum Sheikh acquitted him from the cases registered against him during 2004 to 2007 by Aabpara Police.

The cases were initially heard in Anti Terrorist Courts (ATC) of Rawalpindi but after the removal of section 7 of Anti Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997, these were transferred to Islamabad.

The Police registered FIR 144/04 against Maulana Aziz when Police raided his house in 2004 to arrest him and his brother Abdul Rashid Ghazi but both of them escaped.

According to the said FIR, during the raid, Police recovered 2 Kalashnikovs, 3 magazines and 72 rounds from their residence. Another FIR 144/05 alleged Maulana Aziz of resisting the Police official and facilitating the escape of proclaimed offenders (PO) when the Police was about to arrest them in 2005.

Third FIR 146/05 alleged that on the call of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, the Lal Masjid administration led by Maulana Aziz arranged a demonstration in which the angry mob caused damage to vehicles and motorcycles of the Police officials. The fourth FIR 221/07 in which the court acquitted Maulana Aziz accused him of distribution of pamphlets, delivering fiery speeches and inciting people against the government.

The court reserved its judgment on two cases including issuance of ‘Fatwa’ against Wana Operation and for detaining a police official in Lal Masjid.