ISLAMABAD: A local court of Rawalpindi on Monday confirmed the pre arrest bail to Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz in two cases, extending threats to the civil society and prompting incitement.

Both the cases were registered against him in October 2014.

The court also rejected identical applications filed by the representatives of civil society seeking registration of FIR against the cleric.

The complainant counsel argued before the court that the cleric had sympathy for Daesh, besides inciting the people against the army.

He requested the court to direct the police to register a case against Maulana Aziz under relevant sections of Protection of Pakistan Act (PoPA).

Tariq Asad, counsel for the cleric on the other hand informed the court that his client had neither shown allegiance nor praised Daesh.

He said the government in July 2015 has added Daesh to the list of proscribed organization and it was not an offence if someone has praised the Daesh before the government officially banned it.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2016