Pak: FIR registered against pro-Taliban cleric Abdul Aziz; MQM chief Hussain calls for his arrest

Karachi, Dec 19: A case was registered against Lal Masjid's chief cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz on Friday following his statement in which he refused to condemn the Peshawar school massacre, media reports said.

Civil society had exerted pressure on police to register a case against the cleric in response to his statement.

Maulana Abdul Aziz, the hardline cleric of the infamous Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) in Islamabad stoked a fresh controversy by calling the military offensive against Taliban militants in the North Waziristan region "un-Islamic".

The non-bailable FIR was registered under section 506 (2) of Pakistan Penal Code at Aabpara police station in Islamabad, Dawn online reported. A huge contingent of police personnel has been deployed outside the Lal Masjid to deal with situation.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf(PTI) leader Azam Swati also joined demonstrators outside Aabpara Police Station, demanding an FIR be registered against Aziz.

MQM chief Hussain calls for arrest of pro-Taliban Pak cleric

Meanwhile, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Saturday called for the arrest of the chief cleric of the controversial Lal Masjid in Islamabad for his statement supporting the Pakistani Taliban.

Even as hundreds of civil society activists demonstrated outside the mosque and demanded registration of an FIR against Aziz for supporting terrorists, MQM chief Hussain told thousands of supporters and party members in Karachi that Aziz should be put behind bars.

Addressing a massive rally organised to show solidarity with the armed forces, the MQM chief said the time was over to show any mercy to terrorists or those who sympathise or support them.

"Maulana Aziz should have been arrested and tried when the Lal Masjid operation took place. It is people like him and some religious seminaries which are supporting and breeding terrorists in Pakistan," Hussain said.

He said the Pakistan Army should expand its operation in North and South Waziristan against terrorists to all over the country to root out militants and their supporters.

Hussain said they were elements in some religious parties who were still defending the Taliban even after the brutal attack on the army school in Peshawar that killed 148 people, mostly children.

In Islamabad, the Inspector-General of Police was forced to authorise registration of a complaint against Aziz after a strong demonstration by civil activists who said he should be arrested for supporting the Taliban.

Aziz, who survived a 2007 military operation against militants hiding in the mosque when he was caught trying to escape wearing a burqa, said he can prove that the military operation was against the teachings of Islam.

This bastard is Information Secretary of Imran Khan's PTI and ex Jamat -e- Islami. #ArrestAbdulAziz arrest him. pic.twitter.com/ZNLZw20jkG

— Salman Sikandar (@SALSIKandar) December 20, 2014

Hang all fake Mullahs they've destroyed pak . including @tahirashrafi #MullaDiesel as well . #ArrestAbdulAziz pic.twitter.com/rCOkhNhw1N

— Nadsms © ™ (@Nadsms) December 20, 2014

People in & outside Pakistan condemned killing of kids in Peshawar except this incarnation of devil.#ArrestAbdulAziz pic.twitter.com/ymataSqSjF

— Fung Croc Bandit (@Ahmad13082204) December 20, 2014

Test of Humanity:Any1 who dosnt condem Peshawa/similar attacks isnot human. #ArrestAbdulAziz Not tob left unleashd 2 mov arond in th society

— Khalid A. Khan (@khalidak) December 20, 2014

#ArrestAbdulAziz Look At him !!!! Shame on Us Actually how much respect and security is given to them pic.twitter.com/0Fl60AJduI

— Maan Imran Khan (@MaanImranKhan) December 18, 2014

OneIndia News

(With agency inputs)