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People resent Lal Masjid cleric’s attempt to flee in burqa

* Some demand govt try Maulana Aziz for the killings of innocent people, others say it was a drama

PESHAWAR: Many people said on Thursday that they resented Lal Masjid chief cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz’s attempt to escape in a burqa, terming it a disgrace to ulema.

Outraged citizens demanded that the government try the Lal Masjid chief in a court and punish him for the killings of innocent people and for bringing untold miseries to many families. Maulana Abdul Aziz was arrested on Wednesday while attempting to escape security forces around the mosque in a burqa.

“He should have fought till the end and died to prove what he did was right,” said Gohar Ali, a young banker, during a survey conducted by Daily Times.

Raees Khan, a public transport driver, said the Lal Masjid incident and the chief cleric’s act had maligned the image of ulema held in high esteem by society. “This man must be tried in a court as he has brought our religion into disrepute,” said Khan.

Advocate Eissa Khan said it was a drama staged by the government to justify the army’s further stay in power. “Rulers want to tell the West and America that terrorist elements have reached Islamabad and only the army can handle them,” he said.

Muhammad Siddiq, owner of a grocery store, said the way Maulana Aziz tried to escape, and that too in a burqa, indicated it was all a drama. “Had the Maulana been sincere he would have preferred death to earn a name and not have run like he did,” said the grocer.

A retired government official, requesting anonymity said the Lal Masjid incident was aimed at sabotaging the proposed All Parties Conference (APC) taking place in London from July 7. “It seems to me the Lal Masjid incident was nothing more than a political game to achieve certain objectives,” he said.

“How come Lal Masjid clerics and students had latest weapons?” asked Ibrahim, an auto mechanic. He said that if the mosque’s chief cleric had been on the right path he would have resisted till death.

Samad, an accountant, said the Lal Masjid ulema used innocent children as a shield. “From now on no one will send their children to madrassas, as people have lost confidence in ulema,” said Samad.

Awami National Party (ANP) leader advocate Nasir Khan said, “Rulers want to give a message to the European Union and America that terrorists have reached Islamabad and it’s only the army that is capable of quashing them.”

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