Latest news with #AbdulAzizGhazi
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Itne naalayak log hain… keh rahe hain bijli giri hai': Pakistani man slams army for lying about Rawalpindi attack
A viral video featuring a Pakistani citizen mocking his own military's claim that lightning struck Rawalpindi has sparked widespread debate. The footage reflects rising public discontent with the Pakistan Army's handling of recent events. Meanwhile, controversial cleric Abdul Aziz Ghazi denounced the state, calling any war with India "unislamic" and likening the current regime to one of disbelief and tyranny. As India and Pakistan exchange military strikes, the deepening crisis within Pakistan's civil and political structures has come sharply into focus. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Cleric Abdul Aziz Ghazi denounces Army and state: 'Worse than India' Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A mosque's radical legacy India responds to Pakistani air assaults Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads In a video that has gone viral across Pakistan, a man can be seen criticising the army for its claim that a lightning strike hit Rawalpindi instead of admitting to a targeted strike. His voice is steady but biting. 'Itne naalayak log hain… keh rahe hain bijli giri hai. Sharam nahi aati inhe jhooth bolte hue…' he says, visibly angry. ("Such incompetent people... they're saying lightning struck. Aren't they ashamed to lie like this?")This moment, shared widely across platforms, has become a snapshot of growing public anger. For many in Pakistan, it captured the disbelief and frustration building over what is seen as an increasingly out-of-touch military earlier, another video surfaced. This time, it was Abdul Aziz Ghazi, the controversial cleric of Islamabad's Lal Masjid, delivering a public condemnation of the Pakistani military and government. Standing before a silent crowd, he asked: 'If war breaks out between India and Pakistan, will you support Pakistan?' When only a few raised hands, he remarked, 'There are very few [hands]. This means many are enlightened now. The matter is, war between Pakistan and India is not an Islamic war.'He then launched into a deeper critique of the state, calling it tyrannical and anti-Islamic. 'The system in Pakistan today is that of disbelief (kufr), a tyrannical system. It is worse than that of India. There isn't as much oppression in India as there is in Pakistan,' he to the 2007 siege of Lal Masjid, Ghazi drew sharp comparisons. 'Did the Lal Masjid tragedy happen in India? Does India bomb its own citizens? Are people disappearing in India like they are in Pakistan?' he did not stop there. He cited alleged atrocities in Waziristan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 'The state bombed its own citizens. Have such atrocities occurred in India? Have their fighter jets bombed their people the way ours have? Are so many people reported missing in India? Here, people are exhausted from staging protests in search of their loved ones. Here, clerics are missing, journalists are missing, Tehreek-e-Insaf members are missing.'The footage, reportedly recorded on 2 May at Lal Masjid, has ignited a storm on Pakistani social media. Husain Haqqani, former ambassador to the US, also shared the video and added criticism of the cleric's stance, highlighting the irony of his current dissent given Lal Masjid's own Masjid was built in 1965 and quickly became a nerve centre of Islamic radicalism in the capital. Its influence over young minds and links with Pakistan's intelligence networks were well known. The mosque's profile rose under the leadership of brothers Abdul Aziz and Abdul Rashid, who began openly challenging the government by calling for the imposition of Sharia law across confrontation culminated in the 2007 military operation ordered by then-President Pervez Musharraf. Known as Operation Sunrise , the assault led to at least 154 deaths. It also triggered violence along the Afghan border, leading to more than 3,000 deaths in the following year as pro-Taliban fighters responded by ending a peace deal with between India and Pakistan reached new heights after the Indian Defence Ministry revealed that it had foiled coordinated Pakistani attacks targeting 15 locations across Northern and Western India. These included key airbases and civilian centres in Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. India's Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System reportedly neutralised the threat, including a Pakistani air defence system in Indian strikes were described as 'focused, measured and non-escalatory.' In its statement, the Defence Ministry added: 'It was also reiterated that any attack on military targets in India will invite a suitable response.' Earlier, Indian forces had conducted missile strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan, targeting locations like Bahawalpur, a known Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold.'Indian response has been in the same domain with the same intensity as Pakistan,' the ministry said. It confirmed that an air defence system in Lahore was Pakistan has increased firing across the Line of Control, targeting sectors in Jammu and Kashmir. 'Sixteen innocent lives have been lost, including three women and five children,' the Defence Ministry a statement reinforcing restraint, it concluded, 'Indian Armed Forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is respected by the Pakistani military.'As conflict simmers on the borders, Pakistan's internal fault lines are becoming harder to ignore. From mocking the army's public statements to openly rejecting the legitimacy of war, voices once considered fringe are now being heard in the it's a frustrated citizen on the street or a fiery cleric with a dark past, the message is becoming louder: the old narratives no longer hold.
Mint
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Pakistan's Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz Ghazi slams own country, says 'war' with India ‘not Islamic'
Maulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi of Lal Masjid, a cleric has remarked that there is 'more oppression' in Pakistan than in India, adding that Pakistan's 'fight is a fight of nationality, not of Islam'. The cleric slammed his own country as tensions surge between India and Pakistan post a terror attack in Kashmir's Phalgam that killed 26 people. Muhammad Abdul Aziz Ghazi is a Pakistani Deobandi scholar and Islamist dissident, serving as Imam and Khatib of Lal Masjid in Islamabad. A video of the cleric's sermon has gone viral on social media. The two minute clip shows, Maulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi criticising the Shehbaz Sharif government in Pakistan, calling it a "cruel, useless system". Ghazi accused the state of inflicting systemic violence and injustice upon its citizens. In the viral video, Ghazi poses a question to his audience: who would they support in the event of a war-India or Pakistan? His query is met with a prolonged silence. "There are very few [hands]. This means many are enlightened now. The matter is, war between Pakistan and India is not an Islamic war." Ghazi says. 'Today, the system in Pakistan is a system of disbelief (kufr), a tyrannical system, worse than that of India. There isn't as much oppression in India as there is in Pakistan. Has there been a horrific incident like Lal Masjid in India?' Maulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi continues. Notably, Ghazi's description of Pakistan as an oppressive state is a striking departure, particularly given his association with Lal Masjid, a site historically linked to radical rhetoric. Referring to the siege of Lal Masjid in 2007, Abdul Aziz Ghazi remarked, "Did the Lal Masjid tragedy happen in India? Does India bomb its own citizens? Are people disappearing in India like they are in Pakistan?" The cleric further highlighted the atrocities committed in Waziristan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, accusing the Pakistani government of bombing its own people. Ghazi stated, 'What happened in Waziristan and across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – these are atrocities... The state bombed its own citizens. Have such atrocities occurred in India? Have their fighter jets bombed their people the way ours have? Are so many people reported missing in India? Here, people are exhausted from staging protests in search of their loved ones. Here, clerics are missing, journalists are missing, Tehreek-e-Insaf members are missing.' Ghazi's rhetoric seemingly reflects deepening disillusionment within Pakistan, highlighting fractures in public support for the establishment's policies. Established in Islamabad in 1965, Lal Masjid became a hub for radical Islamist ideology under the leadership of brothers Abdul Aziz and Abdul Rashid Ghazi, who openly challenged the state and called for the imposition of Sharia law. Tensions escalated over several years, culminating in July 2007 when the Pakistani military launched Operation Sunrise to storm the mosque and its adjoining madrassa following violent incidents, including hostage-taking. The siege resulted in significant casualties and damage, marking a decisive effort by then-President Pervez Musharraf's government to curb growing Islamist militancy. Since then, Lal Masjid has symbolised Pakistan's ongoing struggle with extremism and state authority. Its leadership, particularly Abdul Aziz Ghazi, continues to criticise the Pakistan government, accusing it of oppression and violence against its own citizens. The legacy of Lal Masjid is complex, representing both the rise of radicalism and the state's fraught attempts to contain it. First Published: 6 May 2025, 04:26 PM IST
NDTV
06-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Watch: Key Pak Cleric Slams "Tyrannical" System, Calls War With India "Un-Islamic"
Islamabad: Abdul Aziz Ghazi, a controversial cleric of Islamabad's Lal Masjid, launched a scathing attack on the Pakistani government, claiming any conflict with India would not be an Islamic war, even as Islamabad is busy making plans against New Delhi in the wake of bilateral tensions over terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam last month. The cleric criticised the Pakistani government, calling it a "cruel, useless system". In a video going viral on social media, Abdul Aziz Ghazi can be heard asking his audience whether they would stand with Pakistan in the event of a war with India. He question is met with an unexpected silence. Noting the lack of response from the crowd, the cleric commented, "There are very few [hands]. This means many are enlightened now. The matter is, war between Pakistan and India is not an Islamic war." Abdul Aziz Ghazi goes on to denounce the Pakistan military, accusing it of widespread repression, claiming authorities in Pakistan have grown more oppressive- a bold and controversial take for someone associated with Lal Masjid, a place once synonymous with radical calls. لال مسجد کے مولانا عبدالعزیز غازی کا خطاب سنئیے جس میں وہ کہتے ہیں کہ پاکستان کی لڑائی قومیت کی لڑائی ہے اسلام کی نہیں اور پاکستان میں بھارت سے زیادہ ظلم ہے وغیرہ وغیرہ۔ ریاست کے وہ کارندے غور سے سُنیں جو ان حضرات کی سرپرستی کرتے ہیں اور سیکولر پاکستانیوں کو خطرہ سمجھتے ہیں۔ — Husain Haqqani (@husainhaqqani) May 4, 2025 "The system in Pakistan today is that of disbelief (kufr), a tyrannical system. It is worse than that of India. There isn't as much oppression in India as there is in Pakistan," he said. Referring to the siege of Lal Masjid in 2007, Abdul Aziz Ghazi said, "Did the Lal Masjid tragedy happen in India? Does India bomb its own citizens? Are people disappearing in India like they are in Pakistan?" The cleric also cited atrocities in Waziristan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and accused the Pakistan government of bombing its own people. "What happened in Waziristan and across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - these are state bombed its own citizens. Have such atrocities occurred in India? Have their fighter jets bombed their people the way ours have? Are so many people reported missing in India? Here, people are exhausted from staging protests in search of their loved ones. Here, clerics are missing, journalists are missing, Tehreek-e-Insaf members are missing." The video was reportedly recorded at Lal Masjid on May 2, has sparked outrage on Pakistani social media. It was also shared by Husain Haqqani, the former Pakistan ambassador to the US, who criticised the cleric for his views. History Of Lal Masjid The mosque was established in 1965, shortly after Pakistan's capital was shifted from Karachi to Islamabad. Soon, it became a centre for radicalising people against India, with its chief cleric developing a close relationship with Pakistan's intelligence and security apparatus. However, by 2006, when the Lal Masjid was headed by brothers Abdul Aziz and Abdul Rashid, it started openly challenging the Pakistani government by advocating the imposition of Sharia law across Pakistan. As the situation escalated, the then-Pakistani government, led by former President Pervez Musharraf, started seeing the mosque as a direct challenge to state authority. In 2007, the government ultimately launched a military, known as Operation Sunrise, aimed at quelling the growing threat emanating from the mosque. As per official figures, the operation resulted in 154 deaths, while around 50 people were arrested. It also prompted pro-Taliban rebels along the Afghanistan border to nullify a 10-month-old peace agreement with the Pakistani government, leading to violence that resulted in more than 3,000 casualties in 2008.
Hindustan Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Pakistan bombs its own people': Islamabad's Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz Ghazi on ‘war' with India
In a fiery sermon at Islamabad's Lal Masjid, Abdul Aziz Ghazi, a controversial cleric, launched a scathing attack on the Pakistani government, claiming that a war with India would not be an Islamic war. In a video clip, which is being widely shared on social media, he is purportedly heard painting a stark picture of Pakistan's internal turmoil, describing its government as oppressive. Ghazi accused the state of inflicting systemic violence and injustice upon its citizens, pointing to the deepening crisis within the country. While addressing the congregation during Friday prayers at Lal Masjid, Aziz Ghazi asked, 'If a war breaks out between Pakistan and India, how many of you will support Pakistan? Raise your hands.' Noting the dead silence and lack of response from the crowd, he commented, 'Very few hands are visible. That means a good level of awareness has developed. The issue is that the war between Pakistan and India is not an Islamic war.' He continued, 'Today, the system in Pakistan is a system of disbelief (kufr), a tyrannical system, worse than that of India. There isn't as much oppression in India as there is in Pakistan. Has there been a horrific incident like Lal Masjid in India?' Referring to incidents in Waziristan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he questioned, 'Have such atrocities occurred in India as they have in Waziristan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa? Have their fighter jets bombed their own people the way ours have? Are so many people reported missing in India? Here, people are exhausted from staging protests in search of their loved ones. Here, clerics are missing, journalists are missing, Tehreek-e-Insaf members are missing.' As the video went viral on social media, many are saying that Ghazi, once seen as a poster boy of the establishment, is now openly opposing the PM Shehbaz Sharif-led government in Pakistan. Established in 1965, Lal Masjid was built shortly after Pakistan's capital was moved from Karachi to the newly constructed Islamabad. Named for its distinctive red walls and interiors, the mosque quickly became a centre for radicalising people against India. This involvement also brought the mosque's chief cleric closer to Pakistan's intelligence and security apparatus. In 2006, the leadership of Lal Masjid, headed by brothers Abdul Aziz and Abdul Rashid, began openly challenging the Pakistani government. The mosque, along with the adjacent Jamia Hafsa madrassa, became a stronghold for many advocating the imposition of Sharia law across Pakistan. The clerics at Lal Masjid not only sought to establish an alternative governance system based on their interpretation of Islamic law but also called for the overthrow of the Pakistani government, deeming it corrupt and un-Islamic. Throughout the year, tensions between the mosque's militants and the government continued to rise. The Lal Masjid leadership engaged in provocative actions, including calls for jihad against the state. As the situation escalated, the Pakistani government, led by then-President Pervez Musharraf, increasingly viewed the mosque as a direct challenge to state authority and security. This ultimately led to a military operation in July 2007, known as Operation Sunrise, aimed at quelling the growing threat emanating from the mosque.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Open rebellion in Pakistan: After Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, cleric in Islamabad declares revolt against Pak Army. Watch viral video
'I have a question for you. Tell me, if Pakistan fights against India, how many of you would support Pakistan and fight for it?' cleric asked. After a long pause, no one responded. The cleric added. Amidst escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, a Pakistani cleric, Maulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi, openly questioned the army's actions and the public's willingness to support a war with India, revealing a lack of enthusiasm among his followers. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Pakistan Cleric's question draws silence Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Criticism of army's actions in provinces Government's warning amid rising tensions Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Similar video of not supporting Pak Army in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa goes viral Preacher says Pashtuns won't support Pakistan The video draws attention online Long-standing grievances against military Tensions remain after Pahalgam attack As tensions between India and Pakistan remain high, a cleric in Islamabad publicly criticised the Pakistani Army and questioned the support for a war with India. Maulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi, known for leading Islamabad's Lal Masjid, spoke against the army's actions in regions like Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. During his address, he asked his followers if they would support Pakistan in case of a war with India. No one raised their remarks come at a time when Pakistani leaders have been suggesting that India may launch a military strike in response to the recent Pahalgam terror attack , in which 26 people were a video shared on social media, Maulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi addressed students and followers at Lal Masjid. He asked,'I have a question for you. Tell me, if Pakistan fights against India, how many of you would support Pakistan and fight for it?'After a long pause, no one responded. The cleric added,'This means there is enough understanding.'The video was widely shared online and sparked debate, especially as it appeared to question public support for criticised the Pakistani state for its actions in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.'What happened in Balochistan, what they did in Pakistan and across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – these are atrocities. When the people were ready, the state bombed its own citizens.'He also referred to the issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, a concern often raised by human rights Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned of a possible strike by India along the Line of Control.'There are reports that India may strike at any point along the LoC… New Delhi will be given a befitting reply,' he said during a press briefing in Islamabad, according to news agency statement reflects the growing anxiety in the region following the Pahalgam attack. Both countries have heightened security along the video featuring an Islamic preacher from Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has gone viral on social media. In the video, he claims that the Pashtun community would side with the Indian Army if India attacks Pakistan. This video surfaced as tensions between India and Pakistan remain high following a terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 Indian in Pashto at a public event, the preacher said,'If India attacks Pakistan, we Pashtun will immediately stand with the Indian Army against Pakistan Army. They have committed so many atrocities against us Pashtun, and you think we will say Zindabad for Pakistan? Never.'He mentioned military operations, forced disappearances, and neglect faced by Pashtun areas under Pakistan's rule. The video is believed to have been recorded at a public gathering, though the time and place are not verified. ET has not confirmed the authenticity of the video was shared widely on X (formerly Twitter), sparking responses from both Indian and Pakistani users. Some users in India welcomed the preacher's remarks, while others questioned the video's origin and intent. Pakistani users expressed concern over rising frustration among groups, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, have often accused the Pakistan Army of rights violations. The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), a civil society group, has openly opposed military crackdowns, unlawful arrests, and cases of people going development comes at a time of heightened alert in the region. The Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 Indian tourists dead has worsened relations between the two countries.
