ISLAMABAD: *Yet another standoff reported between Lal Masjid Cleric MoulanaAbdul Aziz and Islamabad administration.*
*Notorious Cleric of Lal Masjid Abdul Aziz challenges federal governmentwrit yet again.*
The standoff between the Islamabad administration and infamous Lal Masjidcleric Maulana Abdul Aziz continues, with the latter being holed in themosque for the past two weeks.
He is claiming to be the rightful prayer leader despite a ban on his entryin the premises.
The capital administration had issued a notification of his removal lastyear, but it failed to appoint a new prayer leader, which paved way for thecleric to enter the mosque when the administration was busy dealing withother issues.
As both sides refuse to relent, the Islamabad police have surrounded themosque and are fully prepared to deal with any untoward situation. Thepolice also barred unidentified people from entering the mosque, with anexception made on Friday.
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“Aziz wants a plot for the construction of Jamia Hafsa,” a source said,adding that the Supreme Court had cancelled a 20-kanal plot that wasallotted to him for the seminary in Sector H-11 in 2012.
According to a local media outlet that quoted a source in capitaladministration, the government cannot fulfill the demands, as cleric Aziz“wants to become the khateeb of the mosque again. He also wants Rs250million along with a large piece of land to establish Jamia Hafsa and thepossession of the adjacent old children’s library plot”.
Hafiz Ehtesham, an old confidant of Maulana Aziz, said that the clericentered the mosque two weeks ago despite warnings that his presence wouldmake things difficult.
