ISLAMABAD: The government can revive quashed cases against Lal Masjid chief cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz by incorporating new evidence in the ‘challan’, as he is still believed to have a soft corner for the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State (IS), a senior police officer told The Express Tribune.
According to Section 2f (c) of the Protection of Pakistan Act 2014, a case can be registered against the cleric for his support of terrorist groups, the official said.
Applying ‘innocent until proven guilty’ adage of the criminal jurisprudence, the previous government of the Pakistan Peoples Party had quashed all cases against Maulana Abdul Aziz.
Following the 2007 military operation, a number of cases were registered against the cleric and his slain brother with charges ranging from kidnapping, treason, and terrorism — including a ranger’s murder case against Aziz. But the cleric managed to get acquittal in almost all 37 cases from the courts in a few years, while the remaining were quashed by the government.
Advocate Tariq Assad, who has represented Aziz in many terrorism-related cases, told The Express Tribune that apart from one or two minor cases, his client has been cleared by the courts of all charges. Asked about his former client’s support for militant groups, Advocate Assad admitted that the cleric did not oppose the TTP or IS.
However, Assad was still of the view that the civil society has no right to protest against Maulana, arguing that he didn’t commit any crime and that he also clarified his position during this Friday sermon. “We condemn the barbaric attack on the Army Public School and Degree College in Peshawar, as we cannot support such attacks,” Assad quoted his former client as saying.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 22nd, 2014.
COMMENTS (18)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Taseer Siddiqui:
what are you doing here then?
What are you waiting for Mr.Senior Police Officer. Or are you waiting for higher ups to rceive your marching orders.
Please make sure that you do have Terrorism charges so that this guy, founder of Masjid-Zarar goes before the ATC and not just another magistrate who would release him as the goons would get to him and his family.
@Rafeeque:
It was notorious Chaudhry Iftikhar who forced the quashing of all cases and restoring Mullah Aziz back to his position, out of his own radical and extremist beliefs. Scary part is that Ch. Iftikhar also handpicked like-minded judges in the superior judiciary, like Justice Siddiqui of IHC, pushing us deep in the state of perpetual terror.
If all these cases, 37 of them were squashed by the Zardari Government. Then Zardari need to come out of his fort and explained why he did this. Celebrating Christmas in Paris must be nice. All the wining and dining, intimate little soirees at the Salon Zardari....er...Chateau Zardari. But Zardari need to come out and explain WHY CASES WERE SQUASHED.
@Taseer Siddiqui: YES, please import the "LAW OF JUNGLE" prevailing in Bangla Desh.
This apology is after public pressure. But he himself on said live on TV that he doesn't condemn Peshaward attacks. Now courts are saying we don't have any evidence? What other evidence counts?
And PPP calls itself leftist and liberal, what a joke.
Quite clear that he has the protection of the government.........a terrorist sympathizer and a teacher who spreads hate. It is also quite clear that the government will only talk but do nothing.
Bangladesh judicial system for bringing high profile figures to book irrespective of their religious and political affiliations. Pakistan needs to learn a lot from its former East Pakistan.
Someone should silently put a bullet in his head
Should be arrested and held accountable for all cases until each and every case is thoroughly checked so that he is punished if honesty and justice to prevail.
Time to put a bullet in his head also..!!
This cartoon character must not only be arrested but also tried for treason. The question is whether NS will have the courage?!
These Mullah's are very powerful, nothing will happen to him
The lawyers' license who represent this cleric should be cancelled forthwith, the political parties that helped him acquit from the cases should be banned, the business tycoon Malik Riaz of Bahria Town who helped him rebuild (better than before) this mosque and other mosques in Bahria Town should also be treated as abettor in crime.
His not so sincere apology came little too late! One will come across through thousand of instances of transgression by just viewing his past interviews on TV channels, newspapers alone for which he could be put behind bar. For too long we thought that taking actions against this chap and his fellow mad mullahs would weaken the very foundation of our nation, now are paying the price.
Just do it!