Will The Red Mosque Keep Promoting Radicalization In Pakistan?

Once again the most controversial cleric of Red mosque (Lal Masjid) released his new video message blaming a specific group of people and MQM`s top leadership for hatching a conspiracy against him and his mosque.   (https://www.facebook.com/ABNA.urdu/videos/1217830424898398/). This is not the first time that Moulana Abdul Aziz has expressed his anger against MQM`s leadership and a civil rights activist in such a way. In the past too, he even threatened them over the same matter due to which two cases (FIR`s) are already registered against him.

In the video, Moulana Aziz claimed that the people belonging to a specific sect of Muslims (Shias) were involved in intrigues against the people of Sunni sect. He also claimed that a brigadier in ISI, belonging to a Shia sect, was lobbing for an action against him and the Red mosque. He revealed that a video, with a confession that he sent people for collecting extortion, was also being prepared in this context.   

Question is, do the prevailing laws of the country allow an individual, a group of people or an organization to create and/or promote division on sectarian basis in Pakistan? When no, does Abdul Aziz`s video not come under the act of incitement of sectarian violence in the country?

More importantly, by referring to a Shia brigadier allegedly working against him, Moulana also hinted a divide in ISI on the basis of Shia and Sunni. Question is, is there really any sectarian divide in ISI? If no, is this not an obvious attempt to create a division in the country especially in the scenario where patriot Pakistanis are already fearing such a thing in the context of the rising tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia?

Moulana Abdul Aziz also claimed that some videos had been prepared against him by the authorities. If really true, how the hell did such an inside information get leaked to him? Does this not indicate that some officers/personnel in the Pakistani agencies have links with radical elements?

On top of all, the Red mosque priest also revealed that an officer (major) of ISI had a meeting with him in a quite congenial atmosphere to resolve the differences with him.

It should be kept in mind that it is the same Abdul Aziz who, in his "fatwa" (religious decree), declared that none of the army officers, killed in the fighting in tribal, was a martyr and that he forbade people to offer their funerals. Similarly, Abdul Aziz not only endorsed a video made by his female students of Jamia Hafsa (in which they publicly supported ISIS), but also confirmed that he did not oppose the agenda of Islamic State. Further, ever since a civil judge issued a non-bailable warrant against him, it is assumed that he has gone underground.

Taking into account all these, is it not really astonishing that a Major in the ISI met him privately? Does this not strengthen the prevailing perception that there is a secret relationship between the Pakistani military establishment and the extremist groups due to which the radicalization has not yet been eradicated completely? In fact, Moulana`s video message is surely like a confession which he did not give from the custody of Police, Rangers, NAB, MI after his arrest. Rather, he revealed all that voluntarily without any kind of fear or pressure, which can create serious problems for Pakistan and its army.

However, if whatever the Red mosque`s priest has claimed is nothing else, but a bunch of blatant lies on the ISI, then the Pakistani authorities should take stern actions against him. He should be tried under the charge of high treason in order to dispel the impression that ISI has some sort of links with any radical groups in Pakistan.

Now, the ball is in the court of the political and military rulers of Pakistan. If they arrest the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) cleric and try him in the court of law in true sense, this will surely help to give a positive message to the entire world that there are no favorite groups (known as “Good Taliban”) of the Pakistani military establishment. But, if he keeps moving and propagating radicalization in the country the same way like before, then it would in turn prove Moulana Abdul Aziz`s revelations very true which would definitely cause more damage to the image of ISI before the world. Now, let`s see what the time proves in the days to come.