Lal Masjid cleric moves SC on imposition of Sharia law

Maulana Abdul Aziz moves constitutional petition under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution

ISLAMABAD: The infamous cleric of Islamabad’s Lal Masjid, Maulana Abdul Aziz, on Thursday approached the Supreme Court regarding the imposition of Sharia Law across the country.

Aziz moved the constitutional petition through his counsel Tariq Asad under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.



In the petition, Aziz urged SC to "direct federal and provincial governments to take steps as required under the Constitution in order to enable the lives of Muslims in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Quran."



Further, the petition requested the top court to "direct the state under Article 25-A to provide free and compulsory education to all children between ages of five to 16 years."





A request was also included in the petition to direct President Mamnoon Hussain and governors to present a report before the National Assembly and Provincial Assembly on the observance and implementation of the Principles of Policy.



Last month, Maulana Abdul Aziz  rejected a warning issued by the district administration against his recently launched campaign for implementation of ‘Sharia Law’ across the country.

“Pakistan was created for the Islamic system but has been far away from Islam since birth,” Aziz said in a video released on Sunday, adding he would go ahead with his plans.



“I demand a committee be formed to determine if the present British-era judicial system is in accordance with Quran and Sunnah,” Aziz is seen asking in the 25-minute video.

The prayer leader said nothing could deter him from his mission, adding he wanted to tell the government and all state institutions his movement for the implementation of the teachings of Quran and Sunnah will continue.

“I demand enforcement of Quran and Sunnah as it a constitutional obligation,” he said, and offered himself for an open trial if there is any case pending against him. “I want to put myself on trial but that should be in line with Islamic Sharia.”