WMAP announces protest moots

Published August 23, 2007

MULTAN, Aug 22: The clerics of Wafaqul Madaris Al-Arabia Pakistan (WMAP) have announced holding countrywide protest demonstrations against ‘Operation Silence’ in Lal Masjid.

In a press conference here on Wednesday, WMAP Additional Secretary General Mufti Kifayatullah, Central Coordinator Maulana Muhammad Imran and Azad Kashmir Coordinator Maulana Mehmoodul Hassan Kashmiri said they would not allow construction of any other building at the Jamia Hafsa site.

To begin with, the WMAP would organise an Ulema convention in Islamabad. Such conventions would also be held in provincial capitals in the second phase and at district level in the third and last phase, they added.

They said if the government would not accept their demands, they would reveal their next line of action.

They alleged that since the filing of a petition in the Supreme Court by the WMAP, seeking registration of FIR against government officials involved in Lal Masjid operation, the government was trying to disintegrate the board.

They demanded recovery of missing people, ending police control over Jamia Faridia and resumption of educational activities in the seminary, opening of Lal Masjid for prayers, ending government’s involvement in the mosque’s affairs and restoring Maulana Abdul Aziz as prayer leader and reconstructing the Jamia Hafsa.