KARACHI - The Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Sunday got a case registered against Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz for hurling murder threat on MQM chief Altaf Hussain.
The MQM blamed Maulana Abdul Aziz for justifying militant attack on Peshawar school and supporting the terrorists involved in the massacre. The MQM demanded immediate arrest of the cleric.
According to details, the FIR No 304/14 was registered at Azizabad Police Station of District Central Karachi on the complaint of MQM`s Arif Khan Advocate. Prominent MQM leaders including Haider Abbass Rizvi, Dr Farooq Sattar, Amir Khan, Baber Khan Ghauri and Khaid Maqbool Siddiqui were also present at the police station during the process of registration of FIR. The FIR against Lal Masjid cleric included sections relating to provocation, terrorism and cybercrimes.
Moreover Azizabad SHO confirmed the registration of the FIR and said that Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz was nominated in the case, adding that though the case has been registered; the police have initiated its investigations.
Meanwhile, the MQM also staged a protest demonstration outside Karachi Press Club against Maulana Aziz. A larger number of the workers and supporters holding banners and party flags gathered and chanted slogans against the Lal Masjid cleric for showing sympathies with Taliban and character assassination of the MQM chief.
Addressing the protestors, MQM coordination Committee In-charge Qamar Mansoor said that his party believed in rule of law and thus taken the legal course. He said that Maulana Aziz indulged in character assassinating of MQM chief Altaf Hussain and hoped that the courts would give speedy justice to them. He asked the people to rise against the people like Maulana Aziz and said that for how long they would continue paying extortion to such people.
The MQM leader praised Army Chief General Raheel Sharif for courageously fighting terrorists and appealed him to act against those who are spreading sectarianism.
On the occasion, Qamer passed public resolutions demanding arrest of Maulana Abdul Aziz and hi trial under the Article 6. He demanded to extend Zarb-e-Azab operation across the country to eliminate extremism. He asked to explain the agenda of the forces that do not consider the war of terror as a war of Pakistan.
It is essential to unveil the covert leadership of the all extremist organisations and take stern action against them. He also demanded to expose the players involved in restructuring and functioning of Lal Masjid.
MQM leaders including Faisal Sabzwari and Haider Abbass Rizvi also spoke on the occasion and demanded immediate arrest of the Lal Masjid cleric. They said that the party workers were staging protest over the threatening message of the Lal Masjid while the protest drive would continue until the arrest of Maulana Abdul Aziz.
It is pertinent to mention here that the MQM chief earlier called for the demolition of Lal Masjid and Hafsa University of Girls in Islamabad for sympathising with Taliban. The Lal Masjid cleric landed in hot water after he allegedly refused to condemn the Peshawar school attack which left at least 132 schoolchildren dead. Islamabad Police have also registered a case against him following a protracted protest by civil society members against his controversial statement.
Responding to the MQM chief’s statement, Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz in a video message calling Altaf Hussain a coward said those who demolish Allah’s houses would meet their fates. He said former President and COAS Pervez Musharraf is an example as after attacking Lal Masjid, Pervez Musharraf could not live in Islamabad. “Musharraf cannot go to any gathering; he cannot go to any meeting, shoes will be thrown at him.”
“If the MQM chief had courage he would have come to Pakistan and give these statements in Pakistan, but you (Altaf) are a coward as you are giving such statement from abroad. We have Alhamdulillah given such great sacrifices. Jamia Hafsa students were killed, my father was killed, my mother was killed, my brother and son were killed, my cousins were killed, students were killed but I am still sitting in Islamabad,” said Abdul Aziz in his video message.
“The people of Jamia Hafsa and Lal Masjid are alive, whoever turns his bad eye towards them, will meet the consequences. We have defended our mosque and seminaries before and we’ll defend them again” he warned.
Meanwhile MQM chief Altaf Hussain in a statement declared the video message released by Maulana Abdul Aziz, as totally false, shameless and condemnable. He said that the Lal Masjid cleric is teaching students to carryout suicide attacks while he is endorsing terrorist organisations such as Taliban, Al-Qaeda and Islamic State.
Altaf said that he had demanded the government to demolish Lal Masjid and closing of Jamia Hafsa on the same pretext as Masjid al-Dirar because in this mosque, the preaching and act of harming Islam and Muslims was underway under the rubrics of Islam. The un-Islamic acts, teachings and preaching were being carried out and are still continuing in this mosque, even today”, he added.
Meanwhile, three of sacked leaders of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)'s co-ordination committee were restored on Sunday after a joint session of London and Pakistan chapters of party. According to details, a joint session of London and Pakistan Rabita committee, three of top leaders namely Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Amir Khan and Haider Abbas Rizvi were restored as a part of party's co-ordination committee.
The three leaders along with other MQM members lost their rabita committee membership after party chief Altaf Hussain dissolved London and Pakistan rabita committees on December 10 accusing them of not protesting enough on MQM Punjab leader Bao Anwer's death.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain has approved the decision.