Image default
Pakistan

Nisar reveals Maulana Aziz tendered apology for defending APS attack

WASHINGTON: Maulana Abdul Aziz, the imam of Islamabad’s Lal Masjid, has submitted a written apology to police over his implied defence of the Dec 16 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar.

This was revealed by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan while talking to journalists after ending a three-day visit to Washington. Asked why Islamabad was reluctant to arrest the Lal Masjid cleric, he said the government was careful, not reluctant.
 “It is not difficult to arrest him. But we want to keep our focus on the ongoing operation against militants,” he said. “Any other action at this stage will create a diversion and benefit the militants.”

The minister recalled that after the Lal Masjid operation in 2007, the Musharraf government was forced to bring Maulana Aziz back from his village and provide him special security. “We do not want to take a decision that we have to review later,” he said.
“If we arrest him and it leads to yet another tragic incident, it will have very negative consequences. So I believe that we have to sequence our actions.”
The Interior Minister said Pakistan welcomed US President Barack Obama’s stance that terrorism was not linked to any religion.
He noted that the 60-nation conference at the White House this week had de-linked Islam from terrorism, terming it a corroboration of Pakistan’s stance.
“We believe terrorists should be known by their misdeeds, and not by their religious affiliation or the country of their origin.”
He said the summit also shared Pakistan’s view that the underlying causes of terror, “including political disputes”, needed to be addressed to eradicate this problem.
During his stay in Washington, Interior Minister held bilateral meetings with senior US officials, including Secretary of State John Kerry.
At these meetings, he also discussed the possibility of holding a regional conference in Islamabad to formulate a common strategy for combating extremism.
Nisar said he would further firm up the proposal with senior government leaders in Pakistan and if the prime minister approved it, “all South Asian neighbours will be invited to this conference”.
Ch. Nisar said during his meetings with senior US officials, he noticed a strong desire to strengthen US-Pakistan ties.
The minister informed US officials that while Pakistan was taking “serious and concrete steps” to counter terrorism, “there is a country in the region,” which was not cooperating.
Ch. Nisar said he told US officials that while it was Washington’s prerogative to have relations with all nations in the region, “there is fallout for Pakistan” in recent US efforts to cement its ties with India, “particularly in certain agreements it signed with New Delhi”.
The United States should also address Pakistan’s concerns on this and other issues, he said.
The minister said that in his meeting with US officials he also underlined the importance of clarity and coordination for bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan.
Ch. Nisar also met Ambassador Susan Rice, the United States National Security Adviser. The two exchanged views on matters of mutual interest in both bilateral and regional context.

Dear TNT Reader,

At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.

Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.

But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.

Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.

Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription

Visa Card MasterCard American Express Card

We want to hear your Travel Stories.

Do you have a memorable, unbelievable, or favorite travel experience? Share your story with us.