ISLAMABAD, June 5: Lal Masjid clerics on Tuesday declared media struggle against the government a ‘jihad’ and supported the journalist community in its protest against the government’s curb on electronic media.

Lal Masjid deputy in-charge Maulana Abdul Rashid Ghazi said: “Criticising wrong polices of the government and speaking truth before a cruel ruler is also a jihad.”

He said curbing restrictions on private TV channels was not only a violation of human rights but also a violation of international laws. “The government has no courage to bear a mere criticism of the media,” he added.

Maulana Ghazi said the Lal Masjid administration has extended full support to the media in its struggle against government’s restrictions on the freedom of press.

Responding to a recent remark of President Gen Pervez Musharraf that Lal Masjid in-charge Maulana Abdul Aziz was an employee of Auqaf, Maulana Ghazi said the president had declared his elder brother as an employee of Auqaf department, but in fact he (the President) too was a government servant in uniform.

“Those who have declared construction of mosques as illegal occupation of land have also illegally occupied the whole country instead of safeguarding the borders,” he added.