Afghan Taliban flags hoisted on Jamia Hafsa seminary in Pakistan. Image Courtesy – Zahid Gishkori Twitter
After the seizing of power in Afghanistan, some Pakistanis were accused of being Taliban-friendly. This time indisputable evidence was found in support of this. Maulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi, a notorious fundamentalist cleric, hoisted the Afghan Taliban flags at the rooftop of the Jamia Hafsa seminary in Islamabad.
Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported that Aziz also runs a girls’ religious education school called Jamia Hafsa. Police have filed a case against him, and the religious education center has been cordoned off by riot police.
Islamabad police became active when they were informed about the Taliban flag on the rooftop of Jamia Hafsa. Aziz also allegedly threatened them publicly. Police have filed cases against Aziz, his students, and teachers under section 7 of the ATA, 124-A (sedition), section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Pakistani Penal Code and the arms ordinance.
Allegedly, Aziz threatened the police when they went to the religious education center, even threatened them with weapons. Voices of support for the Taliban began to emerge from inside the academy. Law enforcement people will have extreme consequences – that was being said. Tensions spread in the area.
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The Afghan Taliban flag was flown at the religious school for the third time. However, the deputy commissioner of Islamabad removed the flags. People in houses around the religious education center were alarmed to see the Taliban flag and informed the police.
The police officers told that there was a lacuna in the law of Pakistan that hoisting any flag is not a crime. This lawlessness is creating issues again and again. No legal action could be taken against Maulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi. The Pakistani cleric has been taking advantage of this legal lacuna time and again.
Aziz threatened to overthrow the Pervez Musharraf government and introduce Sharia law in the country in 2007. At the behest of the Musharraf government, Pakistan’s Special Forces entered the Red Mosque of Maulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi in Islamabad and carried out the operation. Hundreds of people, including radical cleric Ghazi Abdul Rasheed, were killed in clashes between special forces and Aziz’s followers.
Several pieces of evidence are there on lawlessness in Pakistan or the establishment of law beyond the border of religious radicalism. The radical leaders are so arrogant there that they even threaten security personnel openly.
