A court in Islamabad had on Friday issued a non-bailable arrest warrants for Maulana Aziz for allegedly threatening members of the civil society who had held protests outside his mosque. The civil society members wanted Maulana Aziz to unequivocally condemn the December 16 attack on the military-run school in Peshawar.
Lal Masjid spokesperson Mufti Tehseenullah on Saturday said that the case was “politically motivated” and that a few members of the “so-called civil society” had exerted pressure on the police to register a “baseless case” against the cleric.
"Maulana Abdul Aziz has decided in principle that he will neither surrender to the police nor get a pre-arrest bail in the baseless case."
He also rejected claims made by civil society members about threats by guards of the mosque and said Maulana Aziz had condemned the attack and that there was no justification to register a case with the police.
“We will not tolerate if the administration takes any action under pressure,” Tehseenullah warned.
COMMENTS (69)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1734587529-0/Express-Tribune-(1)1734587529-0-270x192.webp "pakistan to host another icc event")
1734606611-0/Express-Tribune-(8)1734606611-0-270x192.webp "sindh govt announces public holiday")
Wow! what backing has made this cleric so confident?
"Lal Masjid spokesperson Mufti Tehseenullah on Saturday said..."
Do our mosques have "spokespersons" now?
Sick people we have become, revenge mongers, we are not any worse than the Talibans. How many of these "commentator awam" seen the maulana interview?
This better be a defining moment for Pakistan, otherwise none of us are safe and probably already dead. Do You think the parents of the massacred children were any different from you or me? Sooner or later you or I will be part of the news. USA fought a civil war in the 1860s, one of the most significant reasons was abolishing slavery, North and south disagreed and southern states started to break away from the union. Hundreds of thousands of people died, but it did result in end of slavery (though it took another 100 years to effectively end it). We have let this monster of extreme religious ideology and intolerance go too far. We must change course and People like aziz and his supporters must be investigated and prosecuted, even if it means war, as this is the biggest existential threat to Pakistan .
I guess all that anti terror stuff was just more Pakistani chest thumping - too bad, thought that you might have started to make progress.
Blessed are those who have the protection and the blessing of the God of Ibrahim, and Maulana Abdul Aziz is certainly one of them who looks after the house of God and s erves the community he lives in. Though shall not kill is Gods commandment to Moses and those who do not believe in this are placed in the ranks of disbelievers. Let the citizens of Pakistan be aware that their Government and the army are now in this cadre tool May heavens have mercy on them for they are gradualy ebbing away into the the lavine of abyss. This is what the scriptures say and let ET print this piece.
Rex Minor
He is challenging the writ of the state openly .
you only focus on the religious people, even though they have condemned the massacre, but why you donot bother to know and observe the base of such massacre... we stop to go against politician , why, we have been afraid of some and have relations with some , who will help us in getting unjustified favor , no doubt , 16dec massacre was great loss, but please donot give wrong satisfaction to your soul , by raising voice and slogans in wrong direction , listen to all, but don't follow,first observe ...
sorry, if my comments heart any one
This Non-Scholar Mullah so called "Abdul Aziz" has become the epitome of the Sum of Dilemmas Pak is facing. In other words he portrays the Road Block Pak has not been able to crossed yet. The Lawlessness! The Small Village culture where gossip, revenge, animosities, fight for bread, suspicion of non-natives, honor in winning at-all-cost at anything... runs deep. Here an educated politician don't hesitate to use Ruthless Terrorists just like his farm dogs... to give a terrible lesson to those who stumble upon his assumed private territory/land. How can you let go such a ruthless defense?
Remember Musharraf now ?????????????? and how the Taleban and its sympathisers had demonised his bravery
I dunt think current Govt is brave enough to take any action against this bigot. He was cooked in same pot in which NS himself, The Master Chef Gen Zia!
So the Maulana has decided not to get a pre-arrest bail.. I think he missed the "non-bailable" part of the arrest warrant... The police needs to take action and arrest the this suspect immediately if government is serious about getting the trust of the people back... we have had enough of this nonsense, time to get Pakistan back from these people...
Please Prime minister! Go to him with few Deigs of Lamb & Zarda. After asking his forgiveness and blessings mention him your political stability and stature among Pak citizens. Curse all those Pak Citizen for "raising a hell". Then with due respect ask him if he kindly leave the Govt property. Of course with a promise that he will get his job back as "the crowd" settles down.
Open defiance - what's new? Pretty good sign that he doesn't think much of Pakistan's new resolve to counter terrorism and it's supporters - let's hope he's wrong.
Time to call musharraf
If you focused to target to the believers only maktab e fikar surely it will lead more horrible events in Pakistan.. People hanged who were accused on targeting Army (surely they must be hanged) but why not to all terrorist who are involved in killings of civilions. Why not hanging the terrorist of Sipah e Muhammad???? Who are involved in many Ulema karaam killings.??????
Shareefs are secretly TTP supporters?
Why the kidnappers call from Afghanistan and ask to give ransom money to Lal Masjid, it will reach us???
@salim: Stupid civil society and internet trolls like you have made this guy a hero. Our focus should be on real war not on war of words which internet trolls love but when time comes to fight these rogue element at open battle grounds, people like you are not found there. I don't say that we should spare him but this was not the time.
Clean up Pakistan. Govt, it's time to show your resolve. Enough of these Mullahs.
Good Going Maulana. You are helping display the impotence of Law Enforcement in Pakistan and the Mockery of Law that everyone makes...
This is exactly the reason Nawaz has decided to supervise anti terror operations himself. He has already halted executions and his wig man is allowing terrorism to grow like his predecessor 'Raymond' Malik did, right under the nose of PM house and Parliament and next to Aabpara Police Station.
This is a test case for the government......
An open challenge to the state of Pakistan and its rulers....this Mullah is saying all of this as a paid employee and sitting in a mosque owned by the state....Is our state impotent or is it complicit with these traitors...he and his students or supporters whosoever resists his arrest and trial should be also sorted out well and proper ....time to make an example of these people...unless this man and his supporters are taken in writ of the state cannot be established anywhere...He and his supporters and his students are a symbol of state failure right in Islamabad....we have heard enough talk and resolutions from the PM since the tragedy...time to see some action and resolve by the government ...not just military....this war has to be fought on all fronts...first case for the speedy trial courts....start from the Capital...beautiful Islamabad...
All politicians must come on media and declare war against people like him...they must not ignore this..specially the PM or people and the world will think that it is business as usual...they did whatever they did under Military pressure but not out of commitment...it is time that even any media person giving any coverage to this sort and showing any sympathy should also be taken in...the media should show this and demand arrest and trial on this for treason....this is open rebellion against the state...what else is treason....Musharraf did the right thing...these politicians only due to bughz against Musharraf allowed this snake back in Lal Masjid and declared him and his students victims of Mush...even then all video and photographic evidence showed that they had rebelled against the state...This time around let us see how Mr. Nawaz Shareef deals with this open rebellion...by the way this Mullah openly said that Shareef got votes on lal masjid issue which is true...and this is what has been wrong with our politicians...but not this time...if NS does not act...people should take him to task and make sure that he is also counted as a supporter of this ideology...People of Pakistan should not spare any supporter regardless of how highly placed he/she may be...
Why, is he above the law? just like he escaped in Burka and then live broadcasted on TV with burka. These goons are good for nothing, believe they are above the law and neo-Talibans! Punish them according to law.
As long as we have people like Nawaz Sharif, Ch.Nisar, Ejaz-ul-Haq, the JI, JUI-F and the tacit support of Imran Khan sitting in the assemblies as our leaders.......people like Abdul Aziz and other religious extremist and terrorist sympathizers WILL DEFY THE STATE...and get away with it.
Moulana Aziz is an assest for PMLN. Sharifs do not want lose such assets. We miss Musharraf who was dealing with such elements superably.
@sabi: if ignored he has sponsors to challenge state did before.
Aziz has sympathizers,facilitators and sponsors,local and international what else is required to grow to any direction or challenge.
@Ch. Allah Daad: "Ignore such stupid people and focus on those who carry arms just like Munawar Hasan was ignored when he made a very strong statement against Pakistan army."
You must be joking! These terrorist leaders preach terrorism, suicide bombings. In their premises deadly weapons are stored and you have the audacity to say "ignore them"?
Does your Govt have the courage to take necessary action? A big test for them, indeed
Hope the authorities book him for a cognizable offence and initiate a prosecutable case against this hate-mongering medieval beast, otherwise there is a danger of making him a hero in the eyes of his blind followers.
Here we go again. 2007 will be repeated all over again. This man is challenging openly the govt's writ. Musharraf rightfully took action and had this man arrested. Then PPP and PMLN let him off rather than put him behind bars forever. Now we will pay the price of letting him go free. PMLN does not have the will or competence to deal with this menace. Army needs to take action again and decisive this time.
You don't need a Prime Minister to order the arrest. A lowly SP police is the one who is needed take him in. Our PM ain't no Churchill though. He probably does not want to do this.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Now That is "Politically Motivated! How come TTP Sympathizers still posting here?
Nawaz Sharif was created by Zia Ul Haq and Zia is responsible for the creation of this animalistic Taliban/ISIS culture in Pakistan. Why would anyone expect Nawaz Sharif to arrest this Mulla? It is very similar to arresting his own brother.Moreover the Saudis paid him over $1.5 Billion in cash to propagate this heresy.
Army would have to do the job.
keep the pressure up Nasir.
He has his own guards at the masjid? I wonder why?
Will Altaf Bhai also be arrested for saying that the masjid should be burned down? Society should tackle all elements causing menace in society, not just one side. There should absolutely be no political bias if we are to progress as a civilized nation.
Now they will make a star out of this man by arresting him. Just let him be. He has apologized.
@Jawad U Rahman: Why wasn't there such a chorus when TuQ and Imran Niazi were causing physical damage to Islamabad and attacking police officer . I guess they were "good tailiban "??
Instead he will prefer to wear a bnurqa to escape arrest.
Give them 24 hour notice to vacate premises and surrender. Or shoot to kill. Simple.
This mosque needs to razed and a community centre should built here.
General Sharif and PM Sharif - time to show your resolve.
Here we go again. No respect for law and the judicial system by a taliban friendly maulana. Lets see the resolve of NS government.
Another Lal Masjid operation looming. Which burqa will you select this time Mr Abdul Aziz?
He is sticking his tongue out at Pakistanis. He won't condemn the Peshawar killers and will issue threats to who ever he wants to and the police won't arrest him. Where to now Pakistan ?
wipe off please
If things go south, Moulana abdul Aziz sb will again escape in a burqa on the basis of principles!
mulla is hoping for another confrontation like 2007 so he and like minded people could fabricate stories for sympathy and support.
Politicians are not strong enough to rise to this challenge.Unfortunately we are in a sinking ship now.
Empty words. Fake promises. Giving people false hopes of improvement. This is all just a ploy. No real action will be taken to curb extremism or terrorism. Such is our fate under this Government!!!!
Come, give him some taste of new resolve and this joker will say I was joking.Let them beg and beg and beg.
This also prove Mullah is the real enemy and governments are extremely afraid of these beasts.
Ignore such stupid people and focus on those who carry arms just like Munawar Hasan was ignored when he made a very strong statement against Pakistan army.
What are you waiting for Mr prime minister?. This man is giving naked threats ridiculing court orders-Where is your resolve?. If this man doesn't fit in your 20 point anti terrorist agenda then who fits for that.I hope you will put him behind bars soon.
He has again challenged the Government, Constituition and Judiciary. If the Government does not arrest him then there needs to be a Martial Law since no citizen feels safe under a Government who cannot provide the fundamental rights to its citizen.
Another little Act in the "Theatre of the Absurd" that is Pakistan today.........
@Jawad U Rahman: You forgot "Gen."
In any other country the courts would not have granted him bail. Even if the case presented by the government earlier was weak, the government would have added charges and have re-assested him under new charges immediately as he steps out of court. Now, he is in his Lal Masjid fortress and both the government and army will hesitate to arrest him because they will fear that there will be bloodshed again and it may make the matters worse. When adiliya released him, army should have arrested and taken him to adiala as they had the support of the awam this time.
An apparently innocent masjid imam has guts to confront the police and resist arrest. Only in Pakistan.
Who makes these violent people religious leaders?
Let Lal Majid cleansing be the poster event of the crackdown against the terrorist.
Beside Government neither the people of Pakistan has yet felt the agony of crying children who sacrificed their lives on that fateful day otherwise they would have taken out that menace which is still enjoying in Lal Masjid. The nation who wants change from tyranny and injustice rise to occasion and demand change. One fails to understand hundreds rather thousands of people sacrificed their lives and this rascal is still living. In some other country person like this would have been part of history.
Police should arrest the friend of Taliban, the so called Maulana, Abdul Aziz, and should produce in the court of law before the Judge and take physical remand for seven days to interrogate his statement in favour of Taliban, in respect with the killings of innocent children and staff of Army Public School, Peshawar.
Time to show things have changed, Mr Sharif. Take down this menace NOW.
Time to show things have changed, Mr Sharif.
The very fact that police/ govt hasn't taken any action against him as of yet tells us that they have learnt nothing, are still not serious, and just playing with people's emotions while releasing harsh yet empty statements.