ISLAMABAD: Police have warned the deposed khateeb of Lal Masjid, Maulana Abdul Aziz, to stay away from the mosque as he is on the Fourth Schedule.

SHO Abdul Rasheed told Dawn that Maulana Aziz had announced he would come to the mosque on Monday for Isha prayers and address people after Taraweeh.

“Police reserves have been stationed around Lal Masjid to intercept him.”

SHO Rasheed said Maulana Aziz would not be allowed to enter the mosque and that legal action would be taken against him if he insisted.

The former prayer leader had not come to the mosque till the filing of this report.

Maulana Aziz had visited Lal Masjid once in Ramazan before and addressed the people, the SHO said.

The police have issued a warning to the deposed khateeb under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA)’s section 11, informing him that he was on the Fourth Schedule of the Act.

The notice stated that Maulana Aziz cannot come to the mosque since his name was on the Fourth Schedule.

He also cannot address the public without informing the police and getting prior permission from them.

In the notice, Maulana Aziz is told that action would be taken against him for his appearance in the mosque.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2018