ISLAMABAD, Oct 26: The Naib Imam of Lal Masjid has said that he supported the Swat-based militant cleric Maulana Fazlullah ‘only ideologically’ and had no organisational links with him.

Amir Siddiqui visited Dawn’s office here on Friday and clarified that his Thursday’s news conference was meant to point out the adverse effects of a military operation in Swat.

He said he wanted to ‘suggest’ to the government to avoid launching an operation in which innocent people might be killed.

He said he had been quoted ‘out of context’ about the military personnel killed in counter-attacks by militants.

“When I was asked to comment on a Fatwa (edict) issued by Lal Masjid Ulema in 2004, I said that Fatwa once issued can’t be taken back so soon,” he said.