Radical Pakistani Cleric Threatens Suicide Attacks in Capital
By SALMAN MASOOD
New York Times
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, April 6 — A hard-line cleric said Friday that he was setting up a religious court here in the country’s capital, and threatened suicide attacks if the government did not enact Islamic law and close down brothels and video stores within a month.
The announcement was made during Friday Prayer by Maulana Mohammad Abdul Aziz, the head cleric of the Lal Mosque who is known for his extremist and anti-American views. Mr. Aziz and his allies have stirred a national debate with their drive to impose Taliban-style rule in the capital, prompting protests by human rights advocates and political parties.
Mr. Aziz’s remarks were the latest in a series of challenges by hard-line clerics to the authority of the president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who is considered an ally of the United States and who has vowed to put Pakistan on the path to what he has called “enlightened moderation.”
“Pakistan was created for an Islamic system,” Mr. Aziz said. “But the government, instead of implementing an Islamic system, is threatening us with a police operation,” he said, referring to the government’s warnings of a raid if the clerics took the law into their own hands.
“Rulers, listen! Our last option will be suicide attacks,” Mr. Aziz said.
(Continued here.)
New York Times
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, April 6 — A hard-line cleric said Friday that he was setting up a religious court here in the country’s capital, and threatened suicide attacks if the government did not enact Islamic law and close down brothels and video stores within a month.
The announcement was made during Friday Prayer by Maulana Mohammad Abdul Aziz, the head cleric of the Lal Mosque who is known for his extremist and anti-American views. Mr. Aziz and his allies have stirred a national debate with their drive to impose Taliban-style rule in the capital, prompting protests by human rights advocates and political parties.
Mr. Aziz’s remarks were the latest in a series of challenges by hard-line clerics to the authority of the president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who is considered an ally of the United States and who has vowed to put Pakistan on the path to what he has called “enlightened moderation.”
“Pakistan was created for an Islamic system,” Mr. Aziz said. “But the government, instead of implementing an Islamic system, is threatening us with a police operation,” he said, referring to the government’s warnings of a raid if the clerics took the law into their own hands.
“Rulers, listen! Our last option will be suicide attacks,” Mr. Aziz said.
(Continued here.)
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