KHAAR, July 9: Militants and tribesmen supporting the Lal Masjid clerics and students have called for lifting the siege around its compound and threatened to declare a ‘jihad’ against the government if the standoff is not ended.

Some 10,000 militants and their tribal supporters assembled at a playground in the Siddiqabad area, some 3km from here, which was encircled by armed men wearing masks. Bazaars and trade centres in the area remained closed.

Maulana Faqir Mohammad, who leads a group of hardcore militants in the Bajaur Agency, was the main speaker. He strongly condemned the operation against Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa, amid slogans of “God is great” and “down with America” raised by his armed supporters.

He said tribesmen believed in peace, but they would continue to wage a jihad against America and its European allies. He said jihad had become mandatory for Muslims.