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ISLAMABAD: The interior ministry came under immense pressure to take action against Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz after four key legal documents, asserting that the cleric was an absconder, were presented before the upper house by Senator Farhatullah Babar.
Babar, who also sought the chair’s permission to move a privilege motion against Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for misleading the house, said Nisar incorrectly stated in Senate that the government did not move against Aziz because of a lack of evidence in the case lodged against him.
Also read: Chairman bars defence minister from attending Senate session.
In a policy statement presented to Senate on Dec 30, 2015, on the implementation of the National Action Plan, the interior minister had also said that if anyone came up with documentary evidence against Aziz, immediate action will be taken regardless of political considerations.
The documents Babar produced included a copy of the FIR against Aziz, dated Dec 19, 2014, arrest warrants issued against him, a court order declaring Aziz an absconder, an advertisement declaring Aziz an absconder and copy of an official notification issued to cellular companies to suspend services in areas in the vicinity of the Lal Masjid to prevent dissemination of Aziz’s Friday sermons.
Also read: Security beefed up as Lal Masjid cleric launches fresh movement in Islamabad
Aziz had publicly declared allegiance to, and sought the support of, Daesh, Babar claimed, adding that the government was “deliberately not apprehending him [Aziz] either because of fear or complicity.”
A First Information Report (FIR) was registered on December 19, 2014 against Lal Masjid’s chief cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz at Aabpara Police Station upon unremitting pressure exerted from protesting civil society.
Related: Lal Masjid cleric asks SC to ‘impose’ Sharia.
Babar said the documents, which were also available with the interior ministry, proved that Nisar’s statement in Senate on Dec 30 was not based on the truth.
He urged the Senate chairman to send the matter to the privilege committee or ask the government for a formal explanation on the contradiction between the minister’s statement and the facts highlighted by these documents.
Read: Report cites Lal Masjid, Jamia Hafsa ‘waging war’ against state
Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani then directed that these documents be handed over to Nisar, from whom he has sought a comprehensive reply on the issue.
Read more
Lal Masjid brigade back again
Arrest warrant issued for Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz
Chairman bars defence minister from attending Senate session
Interior minister wants to rid Islamabad of illegal seminaries
Lawmakers not buying Nisar’s denials
Lal Masjid cleric files petition against police ‘harassment’
On DawnNews
Comments (62) Closed
Jan 22, 2016 04:12pm
It's more due to fear than complicity.
Aziz has Saudi backing. He aint no patriot.
Enough said.
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Jan 22, 2016 04:17pm
It's a tough situation for chaudhry Sb. Apprehension may provoke protest unapprehension means accomplicement with them. Lets see his reply.
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Jan 22, 2016 04:18pm
@H. Farhan how come u know about it?
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Jan 22, 2016 04:20pm
More misleading by PLM-N.
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Jan 22, 2016 04:22pm
For God sake get rid of these Maulanas. Islam is a religion of peace, why would you ask your students to get weapons to bring sharia in this country. The country is already suffering enough is enough
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Jan 22, 2016 04:28pm
Please arrest this man!
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Jan 22, 2016 04:29pm
Aziz's public statements about unleashing suicide bombers should be enough evidence that he is an avowed enemy of the state. Put him behind bars and find out more from him about his factory of suicide bombers and their financiers.
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Jan 22, 2016 04:40pm
Well done! Ch. Nisar - Over to you. Time to prove that NAP is not a farce
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Jan 22, 2016 04:41pm
Chaudhry Nisar is a gutless leader who is playing cat and mouse game with high profile trouble making maulana Aziz to hoodwink people.
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Jan 22, 2016 04:42pm
Will the interior minister resign now that he has been found to have issued false statements in the parliament?
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Jan 22, 2016 04:43pm
If all the evidence presented in senate are true then this is matter of great concern for PMLN led Government. They must have to apprehend culprits in their own rank and files who has ties with banned groups. i.e Sanaullaha & Fazal ur Rehman etc. Nisar otherwise doing a good job. Very surprising, he may have been misled by sympathizer in PMLN!!!
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Jan 22, 2016 04:51pm
Now the next most important question is what were the reasons for an interior minister to protect a criminal? These must be thoroughly investigated and reported in media without bias.
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Jan 22, 2016 04:53pm
all credit for this goes to Mohammed Jibran Nasir whose team was instrumental in preparing these documents and delivering to all the senators
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Jan 22, 2016 04:56pm
how can the govt eliminate terrorism from the country when on one hand it support the cleric who is involved in supporting terrorism
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Jan 22, 2016 05:13pm
We are all waiting nfor the action from interior minister as soon as possible.
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Jan 22, 2016 05:14pm
A politician's public speech was enough to get him banned in the country, while Aziz goes freely. Nice
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Jan 22, 2016 05:26pm
@Philosopher (from Japan), Let his arrest provoke protest. Then get rid of the protesters because supporting a criminal is a crime.
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Jan 22, 2016 05:30pm
These are highly volatile charges and need to be handled under NAP by an army court, as the Government appears helpless against the Lal Masjid ckique.
The Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz is supposed to be a Government servant because he is the prayer leader of a Government Mosque in Islamabad. He should be governed by the normal rules for the civil servants. Even, he should not be allowed to stay at the same mosque for more than 3 years.
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Jan 22, 2016 05:35pm
PMLN govt's experienced team led by our genius pm is doing what it does best i.e loot & plunder plus have fun luxury live like kings on on tax payers money....
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Jan 22, 2016 05:37pm
@Farhan Resign and get punished as well.
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Jan 22, 2016 05:39pm
What about the sim cards used by terrorists?? The interior ministry spoke earlier to take against the cellular companies in case of unregistered sims.
The cellular companies clarified that Afghan's sim card is not workable in those areas where attack did happen.
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Jan 22, 2016 05:39pm
Rest assured no action will be taken against Abdul Aziz. The reason is
simple. This weakens their case against Gen. Musharraf and others.
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Jan 22, 2016 05:40pm
Interior Minister can only stage dramas against MQM like he is playing nowadays in the Imran Farooq murder case he has no guts to face imminent danger lying right in the heart of capital
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Jan 22, 2016 05:44pm
Arrest him and put him under army courts
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Jan 22, 2016 05:47pm
Bravo! Jibran Nasir and the fledgling civil society. One small battle won, should lead to many.
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Jan 22, 2016 05:49pm
@hassan riiiggghhhhtt
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Jan 22, 2016 05:52pm
Why can't he be arrested for inciting hate, try him and prosecute him.
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Jan 22, 2016 06:01pm
One wonders as to what is the contributions of these political leaders in fighting terrorism
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Jan 22, 2016 06:11pm
Civil Govt. & Establishment, both are helpless against Aziz...Aziz has 'mighty & mysterious' powers...!!!
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Jan 22, 2016 06:12pm
To all who wonder why they do not control the Maulauna it is the personal revenge against Mushraff and the smart guy is taking full advantage of the govt.
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Jan 22, 2016 06:16pm
@Khanjee : not many in the world with agree... the thing is people at all levels in the society have to openly come out. Else your anger shall not bring a change.
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Jan 22, 2016 06:28pm
The interior minister is dreaming to take over his party command by playing in the hands of Lal Masjid.
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Jan 22, 2016 06:30pm
Nothing will be done against this mullah. Govt is too scared to put hand on him.
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Jan 22, 2016 06:34pm
The problem is Nisar and his PML N colleagues are close to Aziz and his cronies.
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Jan 22, 2016 06:42pm
Missing the general now.. The nation will never learn
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Jan 22, 2016 06:51pm
Compared to his predecessors, the integrity and performance of the incumbent interior minister is far better. In the current scenario the trial of Maulana Abdul Aziz is not the government priority. He is openly speaking against the system but he is not a threat to the state.
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Jan 22, 2016 06:53pm
I think a FIR should be registered against Nisar for abetting this extremist and for lying to the Senate and the people of Pakistan
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Jan 22, 2016 07:01pm
Farhat ullah baber it seems not bothered about the NDS and RAW terrorism inside Pakistan and trying to divert the attention from Charsadda attack.
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Jan 22, 2016 07:03pm
Time is or never. Abdul Aziz has full backing of KSA, which is not good. Arrest him & put him out of business, but do not hand over to KSA.
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Jan 22, 2016 07:19pm
We should thank mr jibran nasir for sending 78 pages dockets to all the NA members to confront mr nisar in response to mr nisar's demand of providing proof.
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Jan 22, 2016 07:37pm
Fear of what? It is Pakistani State! With public support, it can totally rip and destroy those working against it. Just like it can against corrupt people. The only thing remains is the fearful office holders who themselves aren't clean.
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Jan 22, 2016 08:46pm
What action are we taking after Charsadda incident? We forget within one day, that how hardened we have become?
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Jan 22, 2016 08:51pm
why the military not taking action if civilian govt cant?
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Jan 22, 2016 09:22pm
Try to recollect in past Ch Nissar was missing when there was Karachi Airport attack. He was missing after APS attack also.And surprise, he is missing this time also . When he wants to do something against PPP or MQM he gathers 2 hours long press conference. This guy owes a lot of explanation to all. Seriously we all need to think twice..
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Jan 22, 2016 11:46pm
As an Indian I have no say about the persons mentioned but about Lal masjid this is what I have: When I first heard about it during Musharraf's time I thought that may be its a unit inclined more towards Left i.e. Communist side and that's why an obvious backlash towards it given the army regime at that time. Here around me is lot of Bengali community and color red in conversation s often points to left wing things. Many of my friends say that communism is much better than anti-nationalism, that is if proven that certain elements are truly anti-national.
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Jan 23, 2016 01:35am
General Musharraf should have cleaned the house in the first operation, now the civilian government is dragging its feet just to arrest known terrorist instigators.
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Jan 23, 2016 01:58am
All indicators are convincing us that our children are not safe and not in safe hands.
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Jan 23, 2016 02:30am
@Imran A. We have not become hardened but we are at the mercy of our govt and terrorists. Govt is too cowardly and inefficient and by its very nature survives another day, another month and another year next election and then we will hear talk of building "bullet train" and other lofty slogans and how they will take CPEC to their credit .
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Jan 23, 2016 03:22am
@Arvind Ajimal Whats the point ?
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Jan 23, 2016 04:25am
man, that guy nisar always tells truth
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Jan 23, 2016 04:48am
The current govt. can not efford to touch him. We have a week govt. and they can only touch people with no political standing.
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Jan 23, 2016 05:27am
Choudary Nissar is powerless, he is taking orders to protect mulana Abdul Aziz from his master.
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Jan 23, 2016 05:40am
Ch. Nisar has been taking a bold stance for the continuation of Karachi Operation. Obviously, many corrupt Politicians are against him now. This maybe a mistake, for not taking on the Lal Masjid Cleric. But, the corrupt politicians will try their best to get him removed, not because of Lal Masjid, but because their source of illegal income is in danger. That's why MQM and PPP are shouting out loud against him.
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Jan 23, 2016 05:58am
This is expected when the country is ruled by incompetent bunch for decades.
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Jan 23, 2016 06:10am
Both, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz are Pindi wal. Abdul Aziz must be dealt with iron hand.
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Jan 23, 2016 06:44am
Senator Farhatullah Babar urged the Senate chairman to send the matter to the privilege committee or ask the government for a formal explanation on the contradiction between the minister’s statement and the facts highlighted by these documents. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan is in the dock because of Nawaz Sharif in the back ground.
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Jan 23, 2016 07:29am
@Sal old and boring...sorry
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Jan 23, 2016 10:13am
@Taimoor khan :Still trying to paddle up the creek without a paddle?
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Jan 23, 2016 10:52am
The chief hurdle in the way to progress is our double standered policy and . laws for have and have nots.
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Jan 23, 2016 11:18am
@Dictator Wind direction tells everything, Bhai Jan.
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Jan 23, 2016 11:27am
It is just the deform colours of democracy, let us see, whether it will have an impact on the current operation in Karachi or not. This is the background of on-going political opposing of Nisar Ali Khan, who is the real hero of political system in Pakistan so far.
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Jan 23, 2016 05:51pm
Something must be done enouigh is enough the man who does not recognise the state of Pakistan and its system must be dealt with.His followers are in hundreds if they make trouble put them behind bars there are thousands are behind bars already.
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