ISLAMABAD: A meeting was held at the Aabpara police station between officials of the capital administration and Ulema to discuss ways to ensure peace in the capital.

“Some issues were discussed with the Ulema and they were asked for assistance to maintain law and order and avoid participating in any protest,” said officials of the capital administration and police.

They said there was a need to address some issues which may create law and order situation, including the recent murder of blogger Bilal Khan, protests planned by religious groups and political parties and return of the former administration and students of Jamia Hafsa to Lal Masjid.

On the request of Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat, Ulema from different schools of thought attended the meeting.

The DC sought help from the Ulema to resolve issues, especially the one at Lal Masjid after the return of the former administration of Jamia Hafsa, including Maulana Abdul Aziz’s wife Umme Hassam along with 80 students.

Capital administration seeks religious leaders’ help in getting eight rooms on premises of Lal Masjid vacated

There are eight rooms on the premises of the mosque adjacent to the weekly bazaar which the students and the seminary administration have occupied and started educational activities, said the officials.

The DC requested the Ulema to play their role in getting the rooms vacated peacefully, the officials added.

Besides, the Ulema were also requested not to call or participate in any protest announced by any religious group or political party against any issue.

Meanwhile, a portion of G-6 housing Lal Masjid and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) regional office has partially been sealed since June 10.

One lane of Masjid Road adjacent to Lal Masjid is sealed while its opposite lane is open from Shaheed-i-Milat Road side.

Municipal Road has also been blocked in front of Lal Masjid gate to Saddar Road while four streets leading towards Municipal Road in the area are also sealed.

The step was taken on June 10 shortly after the arrest of former president Asif Ali Zardari who was detained at the NAB regional office in G-6.

But it is not clear if the area was sealed to protect the NAB office or due to the issue related to Lal Masjid.

Former Lal Masjid Khateeb Maulana Abdul Aziz and his wife Umme Hassam lived in the area but they have now moved to Jamia Sumiah, said the officials.

But according to a Special Branch report, there are at least 80 female students residing in the rooms along with Umme Hassam.

When contacted, Ehtasham Ahmed, a close aid of the former Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa administration, confirmed to Dawn that there were over 150 students staying in Lal Masjid and attending educational activities.

“The capital administration had assured us that the issue relating to the cancellation of a plot allotted to us at H-11 would be resolved soon after Ramazan. But so far no steps have been taken by the capital administration in this regard and we are staying here.”

He said police and capital administration had sealed the area on the request of the current khateeb of Lal Masjid.

The former Lal Masjid khateeb and his wife are staying at Jamia Summiah, he added.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2019