ISLAMABAD: A report issued from the office of SSP (operation) about the registration of an FIR against 14 religious scholars confused both the clerics and police on Sunday.

The report stated that an FIR under Section 25-A and 3/4 of the Amplifier Act had been registered with Aabpara police against clerics for making hate speeches during the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) conference.

It added that the FIR had been registered on the complaint of SHO Aabpara Khalid Mehmood. The SHO was also leading the investigation into the case, it said.

The report said those nominated in the FIR included Maulana Mohammad Ahmed Ludhianvi of the ASWJ, Maulana Abdul Aziz of Lal Masjid, Maulana Fazlur Rahman Khalil, Maulana Mohammad Ashraf Tahir and Maulana Muavia Azam.

It may be noted under Section 295-A of the Amplified Act, anyone found deliberately hurting the feelings of a sect through speech or in writing can be imprisoned for up to 10 years.

ASWJ spokesman Hafiz Onaib Farooqi told Dawn that on October 17 they held a ‘Shuhada-i-Islam and Istehkam-i-Pakistan conference’ at Hockey Ground.

“Maulana Abdul Aziz led the Friday prayers on the occasion and after that he briefly spoke and left the venue. Other leaders also did not say anything wrong. I don’t see any reason behind the FIR,” he said.

Mr Farooqi said there was a possibility that police registered an FIR but kept it a secret.

When contacted, SHO Aabpara said no FIR had been registered.

“A report of the Special Branch along with the daily situation report was sent to the SSP office and they might have misunderstood it. Though the conference was held at the Hockey Ground, no FIR was registered against any participant. I was neither a complainant nor am I investigating any such case,” he claimed.

However, SSP Asmatullah Junejo confirmed that an FIR had been registered in which all those who allegedly made hate speeches at the conference were nominated.

“Muharram is approaching so hate speeches would not be tolerated in the capital. Besides, no extra time would be allowed for processions to ensure security,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2014