ISLAMABAD, April 7: Religious Affairs Minister Ijazul Haq on Saturday criticised the two cleric brothers heading Jaamia Hafsa and Lal Masjid and said the only hurdle in an operation against their activities was the fear that the militant elements hiding inside could hurt female students and put the blame on the government.

Talking to Dawn on the developments, Mr Haq expressed the confidence that the matter would be resolved within the shortest possible time.

The minister said the options over taking action to restore the writ of the government were being discussed at the highest level, but he did not elaborate.

He said the cleric brothers, Maulana Abdul Aziz and Maulana Abdur Rashid Ghazi, had been bailed out through his intervention on the recommendations of leading clerics in October 2004 when they had been charged with harbouring and abetting terrorists.

He said he had in his possession the written statement signed by the two brothers that they would no more involve themselves in political activities, political speeches as well as abetting the elements engaged in unlawful activities. They had repented their behaviour and admitted their engagement with the terrorist elements, Mr Haq claimed.

The minister said he had withdrawn from the dialogue process after being engaged in three days’ intensive negotiations through prominent ulema of the country and had asked the interior ministry to keep a watch on the activities of the two institutions.

He said: “We have edict of 53 leading ulema of the country against the activities in which the two brothers were involved.”

In reply to a query regarding the agreement signed by the two clerics, he said that a vehicle seized by police in 2004 was still in the official custody which was allegedly used by the militant/terrorist elements on behest of Maulana Abdur Rashid Ghazi.

He said the cleric had admitted in an interview to a private television channel on Saturday that the said vehicle was still in police’s custody.

He claimed that the activists of the two religious institutions were burning CDs and videos after purchasing them from the market.