- Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz says he condemns Peshawar incident but Pakistan Army should not go against Taliban, denounces Constitution, asks for implementation of Sharia
- Civil society activists protest against Aziz, besiege Lal Masjid, say will continue regular protests against cleric until he apologises for defending Taliban
While the nation is mourning the massacre of minor students in Peshawar at the hands of bloodthirsty Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and is looking up to the Pakistan Army for avenging the carnage, Lal Masjid’s cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz is adamant that use of force against Taliban is not the “wise option”.
Infuriated over Aziz’s denial to condemn the bloodbath in Army Public School, Peshawar, a large number of civil society activists staged a demonstration outside the infamous Lal Masjid in the federal capital on Thursday.
The entire civil society seemed to be enraged at the cleric’s hardline position and during the episode, some protesters even tried to storm the Lal Masjid.
Protesters carrying banners against the inhumane attack in Peshawar, chanted slogans against the cleric for being a ‘Taliban apologetic’.
“It’s quite a shame that even after such a barbaric massacre of innocent children in cold blood, Maulana Aziz still has a soft corner for Taliban. He wants us to spare those bas***ds who killed our children? There is no such thing as ‘good Taliban’ and ‘bad Taliban’. They can’t be allowed to keep killing us in the name of Islam,” said Usman, a university student, who was present outside Lal Masjid.
On this occasion, speakers also addressed the participants and delivered fiery speeches against terrorism.
The civil society also announced that the demonstration will be staged outside the Lal Masjid every day until Maulana Aziz does not apologise for his statement which hurt the sentiments of millions of people across country at a time when the nation was already suffering from a deep shock caused by the Peshawar massacre. They also announced to offer Friday prayers inside Lal Masjid as a sign of protest.
“The Maulana should apologise to the entire nation and declare Taliban ‘wajibul qatal’ (obligatory to kill) because our Army is doing the right jihad against the Khwarijs,” said an elderly man at the protest.
A furious exchange of words also took place between the activists and the Lal Masjid administration however the police timely intervened to prevent any untoward incident.
The police stopped the protesters and accepted an application filed by the Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat (ASWJ) Islamabad General Secretary Abdur Rehman Mauvia seeking action against the protesters. The application charges the civil society representatives with “wrongly accusing Aziz for Peshawar mayhem”.
At one point when vigil participants started to get loud, the police requested for additional units to control the crowd.
SSP Operations Asmatullah Junejo also addressed the vigil participants and asked them to leave the venue, however, his speech was cut short by the attendants.
Later it was reported that an FIR has been registered against some vigil participants.
Later Thursday, Aziz condemned the incident and ‘apologised’ for “hurting the sentiments of some people”, however he defended the Taliban, terming their actions as a reaction to Pakistan Army’s operation against them.
“I condemn the incident a hundred times and apologise to those whose feelings I have hurt a hundred times. But we should consider that Army is shelling their areas without discrimination. Taliban is a power too. If you attack it, there will be a reaction too,” the cleric said, seemingly justifying the massacre which left 132 innocent children dead in the country’s worst-ever terrorist activity.
A debate kept flowing on the social media over the ‘Islamic justification’ of the Peshawar tragedy in which Taliban targeted young children.
Posts carrying the alleged Hadith, which according to Taliban “justifies killing those who had reached puberty”, remained the centre of discussion on various Facebook threads.
Hundreds of social media users from Pakistan and abroad denounced the massacre and commented in favour of strict action against Taliban and other terrorists.
Commenting over the Islamic justification of the terror act, Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC)’s Maulana Tahir Ashrafi said that Islam had no room for any such act.
“Nowhere in the Quran is it written that you can kill children. It was the worst ever bloodbath the country had ever seen. Those children were killed in cold blood. We need to be united on the national level to fight the terrorism which has affected our country,” Ashrafi said, negating Aziz’s stance for talks with Taliban.
Aziz was however quick to let go of his talks demand and sought refuge in asking for the implementation of Sharia in the country.
“I don’t say talk to them. Just implement Sharia in the country. This country’s constitution is against Islam. You believe in your constitution but I believe in Quran and Sunnah. There would have been no issues had you had implemented Sharia in the country. I assure you,” Aziz said, however reiterating his apparent condemnation over the Peshawar incident.
Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) President Raheeq Abbasi defended the Constitution, saying that it believed in the finality of the Prophet (PBUH) and deemed Allah to be the omnipotent. It protects our rights and gives us justice, he said, standing firm that the law was aptly based on Islam which was a peaceful religion and denounced all terror activities.
A couple of days ago, Aziz said that he respects the Islamic State (IS) because of similarity in mission and has no reservations in declaring that he holds the organisation in high regard. He said that the students of Jamia Hafsa had prepared the Arabic video extolling the IS with his consent and the girls did not commit a crime by doing so.
The Lal Masjid chief cleric went on to saying that there was no shame in declaring support for Daesh which, according to him, was out to enforce the “Islamic system.”
In the meanwhile, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has denounced the Peshawar incident, asking the government to take action against those siding with the Taliban.
“It should be clear for all to see that showing respect and concessions to terrorists and terrorism only encourages more terrorism. There has been no sign of repentance for the complicity of those hobnobbing with the terrorists or of their eager apologists. A nation in mourning demands that the political parties who refuse to sever ties with these cold-blooded killers or hasten to their defence should have no title to representing anybody,” the HRCP said in a statement on Thursday.
These fundamental tribal kharijites can not be fought against because they have no honour. Theyre not sunni but maniacs. Instead of gocing sharia in pakistan gove them NWFP and let them foght and kill each other for power there. UK begrudgingly gave ireland independence when it became violent and cancerous. Pakistan needs to learn from history – or be a victom of it.
Wow really? your ignorance is dispicable!
This aziz is a total idiot! Burkha imam! Cowards hiding behind sharia enactment. Grow a pair and fight like men. How dare they put a sword to our heads and demand sharia. Are we not muslims?? Does pakistan stop anyone from practisig islam?? do they not enjoy all the freedoms of worship? Or so they want to control foreign policy via sharia and go after america with nuclear bombs?!?! And start WW3 in the process. What a total bunch of lunatics!
Too many Mullas of Pakistan are teaching children to be disloyal to the state, reject our constitution and are in fact promoting terror. In order to stop further spread of terrorism in the country all such Mullas should be treated as traitors and terrorists.It is about time the state took some firm action against such evil and mis-guided people who are the main source of death and destruction in the country
Do not call him MAULANA nor MULLA….not even as a reference in a joke The word Maula [and thus the word Maulana – our (collective) Maula] is reserved for highly esteem offices in Islam like Allah the almighty, his messenger peace be upon him, and his righteous followers such as companions and male family members. It can be best translated as Owner of a slave, etc. Also, shows respect towards the person for whom its used.
Mr. Burqa'a does NOT own me. I am not his slave neither a servant nor an admirer. Nor, he deserves the high status of "Maula". He is only humiliating the high status that belongs to a Maula. Like of Abu Jahal cannot be termed as owner of this society.
So called maulana Aziz is a big supporter of those killers who massacred innocent children in Peshawar. He also deserves to be punished to kill Pakistan army's soldiers in Lal Masjid operation. He has no right to insult our shaheed children. It is time now to get rid of all left over of dictator Zia. Who was planted by CIA to kill ZAB and involve Pakistan in Afghan war.
Hang this terrorist apologist.
Take the right decisions now, oh leadership, before it is too late! Mere hangings will not solve the issue. Ban the extremist organizations in a genuine way..not the way it has so far been done; hit them where it hurts, as is being done to the people of Pakistan; legislate against Pakistanis funding these organizations; countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia should be made to stop assistance to them; expel all foreigners being trained by these organizations in Pakistan; freeze their bank assets in Pakistan immediately and aiding, abetting or supporting them by anyone should be considered as spreading anarchy under the law and punishment meted out in anti-terrorism courts accordingly. Half-baked measures, as are being used now will not end this tyranny. We need to act now before it is too late…which already seems to be the case, as our leadership is still…despite the tragedy that has happened, not going at full throttle to choke them sadly enough.
So unfortunate that we have hurt ourselves so badly time and again and are doing it once more by not seizing the bull by the horns.
Reply to Taliban Supporters and to those who rant about drone Attacks:
1. Who hides behind women and children? It is your Filthy Taliban who are armed to teeth and hide themselves among women and children while being attacked. First, come out like men and fight Army in open, then your kids will be safe and terrorist bearing prostitutes ( your wives) will stay alive.
2. Lal Masjid : it was your filthy scum (Taliban) who came out like cowards in Women dresses and Burkas to escape and if they would have been killed, it was Army's fault?
3. Killing of Kids? You empty headed blood thirty's try to justify this? It shows the level of your humanity.
4. I oppose USA and its policies too but that doesn't mean I will support sick Talibani – We , who have still humanity left will welcome USA , Pakistan and NATO forces to bomb yours homes, no matter your 5 month old babies or your whores will be killed. You started it, Army will end it. Your place is hell and you will reach there inshaAllah.
5. To Jammati Islami: We have been big fans of Late Moulana Moududi, But you present heads of movement are sick minded when your amir first said the army who fights Taliban and gets killed are not shaheed. Shame on you, it is your jammat who opposed the creation of Pakistan first and it doesn't matter whether the army of that nation lives or dies for you. You are just bunch of losers. Hence forth, Boycott Jamaat e islami too.
We all support Pakistan's Army to slaughter these enemies of humanity. Well, they started it and you must end it. Whole world is behind you.
Message to Afghan People (ALL): You dirty pigs and scum bags were better under Russian rule. Pakistan did very big mistake by helping you. That time USA and Pakistan was your big brothers but your losers couldn't digest victory against USSR and your started slaughtering your own people. When Pakistan tried to stop that by supporting particular group, your big brat Ahmad shah Masood begged to west for Help and turned into a secular hero but in fact, he was shame on humanity too.
Afghan Taliban Supports: These illiterates are not good for Pakistan either, These baboons support Pakistani TTP morally and ideologically, it is Indian and Russian nose which forced some Pakistani elements to put their weight behind Taliban. Now enough is enough. Pakistan must stop stop support Taliban in Afghanistan and look for some other alternative to Taliban – It won't be hard for them to find out – Mullah Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil would be best bet to put weight behind. People of Afghanistan support and like him.
Message to ISIS supporters: Have you heard Kwarij? All Ahadis e Nabwi fits on you. You are blood thirsty hounds and nothing more. Criminals from Europe and rest of the world slaughter in Iraq and Syria. That is all.
Message to Islam bashers: Had you been given a Gun, you wouldn't hesitate to kill same kids like these pigs killed. You are just Christian Taliban who don't have guns and heart to come in open but sit in your filthy chairs behind screen and start abusing a religion of 1.7 Billion people.
Message to Pakistan: Love your Army and try to understand who is with you and who is not. Just people coming with long beards and pretend to be Islamic doesn't mean they show you real path. Do not be emotional by seeing US fighting these Taliban pigs. USA is not enemy but rather enemy is within. Now, someone will come and tell you USA is funding them, Israel is funding them , India is funding them etc etc. It is all mind corrupt thinking and nothing else.
Nobody supports aziz and his twisted ideals and support for the Daish Khwarij TTP and affiliates but also ISIS too.
However no one has the right to demand his arrest he has his views however twisted. We are Muslims and accept his liberty however he needs to be enlightened by some if our esteem ulema on his support for cold blooded killers who massacred innocent children and beheaded some.
We are all hurting but we should not let anger overtake you because anger is the shaytans tool and will lead to transgression.
Hunt the terrorists wherever they are and those harbouring them need to be brought to justice. Sympathisers need to be educated on their barbaric atrocious tactics which is not Islamic.
We do not need token ulemas but those with conviction who can educate the deluded and those who have transgressed away from the seen of Islam.
Really? Please go tell that to the families who lost their kids about educating the symphathisers. Think for a min: every one in the whole wide world denounced this. You really need to ‘ educate people’ so that then they are able to denounce the killing of 140 kids in cold blood?!
Typo… "..educate the deluded and those who have transgressed away from the seen of Islam".
There is no room for extremism in Islam but the root cause is disengaged youths bankrupted hopes and aims by highly incompetent governments be it PPP under gardari or Nawaz Sharif a man who the nation can not tolerate to lead.
Give youth hope and lead by example and define true Islam from the top.
Disillusioned Pakistanis left helpless by a corrupt government are lead towards very extreme path.
Do NoT let Nawaz Shareef of the hook he to is part of the problem.
Shame on Dawn or other TV outlets to cover this filth or these types of Kharji Molvies. Media has more mess by confusing the public. I think Army courts should also be used against media outlet who let any Taliban supporter propagate their filthy ideology.
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