Arrest call for Pakistan cleric
- 9 years ago
Mualana Abdul Aziz is one of Pakistan's most senior clerics and now perhaps one of its most controversial.
A judge has ordered his arrest for allegedly refusing to condemn the massacre by Taliban militants at a school in Peshawar earlier in December.
Protests have erupted outside the Red Mosque in Islamabad where he teaches.
Aziz is defiant.
(SOUNDBITE)(Urdu) MAULANA ABDUL AZIZ, SENIOR CLERIC, SAYING:
"A mass amnesty should be given to all those facing court trials and Islamic law should be stated in the country. My case is very small and even a sub-inspector can grant me bail."
Media reports say the cleric issued a statement condemning the killing of schoolchildren after the protests began.
The Red Mosque is seen by many as a strong supporter of the Pakistani Taliban.
A judge has ordered his arrest for allegedly refusing to condemn the massacre by Taliban militants at a school in Peshawar earlier in December.
Protests have erupted outside the Red Mosque in Islamabad where he teaches.
Aziz is defiant.
(SOUNDBITE)(Urdu) MAULANA ABDUL AZIZ, SENIOR CLERIC, SAYING:
"A mass amnesty should be given to all those facing court trials and Islamic law should be stated in the country. My case is very small and even a sub-inspector can grant me bail."
Media reports say the cleric issued a statement condemning the killing of schoolchildren after the protests began.
The Red Mosque is seen by many as a strong supporter of the Pakistani Taliban.