Lal Masjid cleric limits activities in protest
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ISLAMABAD: Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz delivered his third consecutive Friday sermon over the telephone.
During the last three weeks, the cleric has not visited the mosque due to which there are speculations that he is under house arrest. However, according to police sources, he has decided to stay in Jamia Hafsa seminary to protest withdrawal of security by the government.
Maulana Aziz enjoyed official security for about three years. As many as three police commandos were deputed for his security in 2011. But on December 21, 2014, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told a press conference that the government had withdrawn security from the cleric.
The minister said Maulana Aziz was not the khateeb of the mosque as his nephew Maulana Amir Siddique had been appointed the khateeb when Pervez Musharraf was in power.
An official of Lal Masjid, Tehseenullah, confirmed to Dawn that Maulana Aziz had been delivering weekly sermons over the telephone and did not visit the mosque for over three weeks.
“Because of security situation, the Maulana has decided to limit his activities. Moreover, the police have also informed him that his life was in danger,” he said.
When contacted, SSP Operations Mir Viaz Niaz said Maulana Aziz was not under house arrest. “He can go anywhere in the city. However, it is up to him if he delivers the Friday sermons through phone or in person,” he added.
Published in Dawn January 31st, 2015
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Comments (34) Closed
Jan 31, 2015 10:02am
It is funny that he who is the security threat for the society is claiming to be the one in need of security. They think that everyone is an idiot. But, the bigger question is, why is he not in jail yet.
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Jan 31, 2015 10:05am
Wao what a previliged person.arrest warrants issued yet police says he is free to go any where and deliver sermons any way he wants.God help this country
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Jan 31, 2015 10:14am
It's shocking to know that he was being provided VIP security for so many years. No wonder, nobody in the world believe and trust pakistani government's commitment to fight the menace of terrorism. I am at lost why this nation of Pakistan is in deep denial and out of touch with reality?
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Jan 31, 2015 10:22am
Lal Masjid shows that the government has no control anywhere including Islamabad. With so many ministries struggling to perform it is surprising that not one minister has resigned and accepted that he does not have in him to deliver. No wonder some politicians are openly talking about a military takeover.
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Jan 31, 2015 10:57am
He should be behind bars. Forever.
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Jan 31, 2015 10:57am
what a joke he is on protest against Government who has taken back security , and he openly go against this govt. as well.
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Jan 31, 2015 11:01am
He may use a burqa to visit the mosque! LOL
Why did he get security in the first place? He should be in jail!
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Jan 31, 2015 11:07am
Arrest him. Charge him with murder of the soldiers who died in the red mosque operation. The mosque was illegally built and expanded. It should be pulled down.
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Jan 31, 2015 11:11am
He and his followers are threads to only paki nation but to the whole world. All suicide bombers are his students. why he need security???? They are the one who kill people.
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Jan 31, 2015 11:33am
What a brave man! A cleric who wants people to die don't want to travel without security!
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Jan 31, 2015 11:34am
Give him a Burqa hahahahhahah
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Jan 31, 2015 11:58am
why is he being allowed to deliver sermons through phone????
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Jan 31, 2015 12:17pm
Can someone tell me what he said in the sermon.
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Jan 31, 2015 12:52pm
Is he mocking us?It is highly disappointing to see the inability of the authorities to put him behind bars.In fact,its a test case to gauge the will of the government to enforce its writ and its commitment to rid the country of terrorism at all costs.It is,therefore safe to predict that the poor and helpless people of Pakistan will suffer acts of terrorism for a long time to come.Yesterday's grim and painful incidence of mass killing in Shikarpur is a proof.
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Jan 31, 2015 12:59pm
Send him to Jail and keep him there
He will be well protected there and his outburst will also stop
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Jan 31, 2015 01:09pm
This government is a joke
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Jan 31, 2015 01:27pm
There is a warrant for his arrest yet one of he police officials is saying the maulana is free to go where ever he wants....this can happen only in Pakistan.
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Jan 31, 2015 01:30pm
Cann't people listening his surmons over telefon condemn him, and stop listening him? Cann't people going to the mosque decide who should they follow or listen? Should people stand behind an Imam who is literally a threat to society? If we cann't select our political leaders democratically how can we select our Imams...
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Jan 31, 2015 01:55pm
@Tranquil
Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri are also against the government, so?
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Jan 31, 2015 02:06pm
What s joke under the nose of Pakistani government and ISI. What's wrong with our leaders. This man is a trouble maker and has been brain washing youth (boys and girls) for a long time. He should be tried in military courts and put where he belongs asap. Why should he be provided security? Shame on government?
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Jan 31, 2015 02:46pm
successive flawed policies of the governments of Pakistan since 1980s have tarnished the image of the country root and branch. Therefore, the task of bringing the country back to its track is highly difficult. This country is need of successive honest governments in future which could change the country's fate by introducing basic facilities at the grass roots level. Change will definitely come but if advocates of democracy in this country begin with basic development and welfare of the masses. As far as force against country's own anti-social elements is concerned, the country's leadership must use the option of talks instead of using force, as it can be proved from history that peace prevails through negotiations and not war or use of force.
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Jan 31, 2015 02:48pm
SSP Operations should be fired for making a ridiculous comment. The guy has a warrant against him and should be in Jail, but our Police issue a statement saying he is free to roam the country. Incompetent Idiots! And the Lal Masjid cleric...He is a coward.
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Jan 31, 2015 02:54pm
@James zatonski I wouldn't say they don't have control, the problem is incompetence. No one wants to do their job because the option of not doing their job rewards them better. The culture in Pakistan rewards the wrong-doer. Only a 50 year Military take-over is the solution to this problem, whereby the military run the country for 50 years while a new generation of people are nurtured in true democracy to run the country for the future. This is the only way.
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Jan 31, 2015 02:59pm
Don't know how can people go pray in that mosque after listening to a terrorist sympathizer's sermon.
Civil groups should start a campaign asking public to boycott Lal Masjid.
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Jan 31, 2015 03:38pm
Funny police statement.
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Jan 31, 2015 03:56pm
The office said this Maulana can go wherever he wishes, but isn't there a warrant out for the arrest of this Maulana?
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Jan 31, 2015 04:09pm
@TI I have a feeling you know the answers of yours questions.
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Jan 31, 2015 04:41pm
Pakistans' cost of providing security is going through the roof . The size of government military and police is virtually sucking last drop of revenue and leaving nothing for anything else. Still security is hard to come by.Who is to blame, western influence or ideology disseminating from Saudi Arabia.
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Jan 31, 2015 04:41pm
@shezad
its a good idea, maybe you can lead it? unfortunately I live abroad otherwise I may have helped you.
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Jan 31, 2015 04:51pm
@AXH who will explain that to KSA and USA.
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Jan 31, 2015 05:40pm
Only thing you need in Pakistan is either money or power and then no law applies.....
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Jan 31, 2015 06:00pm
Sermon through phone is not valid. Those people need to pray jumma again. For a sermon to be valid the Khateeb has to stand and face the people. What if someone has a question?
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Jan 31, 2015 07:49pm
he should be in jail and needs to cut his activities 100%. He should never see the light of the day again.
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Feb 03, 2015 09:18am
is it me or he really has a very mischievous look?
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