ISLAMABAD: Separate cases were registered against former Lal Masjid cleric and his wife under multiple sections of various laws including Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), police said on Wednesday.

Both cases were registered with Aabpara police station, with one filed against Maulana Abdul Aziz in response to a complaint lodged by Constable Javaid Anjum.

The case was registered after Maulana Aziz criticised the armed forces in his sermon at Lal Masjid.

According to the FIR, the cleric called the army and government wrong on the basis of his self-made religious ideas, which he later propagated through social media with the purpose of publicising the banned terrorist outfit, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, and trying to encourage terrorism by terming it justified.

He tried to demoralise the army and stir mutiny within its ranks, the FIR said, adding that his purpose was to spread fear and terror among people and the law enforcers, and create a gap between people, religious elements and forces. The other case was registered against Maulana Aziz’s wife on the complaint lodged by ASI Abdul Qayyum.

According to the FIR, the ASI stated that he saw a video on social media of Umme Hassan, the wife of Maulana Aziz, in which she threatened the police and administration.

On the basis of her religious views, she said she would not allow any cultural or musical programme to take place in Islamabad even if the capital administration granted permission.

She had intervened unnecessarily and with the help of her colleagues, disrupted such programmes in the past and would do the same in future as well, the FIR said, adding that she had openly said that she had weapons, including a Kalashnikov.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2024