STAFF REPORTER The Islamabad police have surrounded the Laal Masjid in Sector G-6 after Maulana Abdul Aziz, who headed the mosque at the time of the 2007 Lal Masjid siege, reentered the mosque. Aziz has been in the mosque for two weeks, despite being deposed at the time of the 2007 siege. Talks between him and the government have been under way for the past two weeks. According to a source close to Aziz, he wants a plot for the construction of Jamia Hafsa. He said that the Islamabad administration had allotted him and his wife Umme Hassan a 20-kanal plot in Sector H-11 in 2012. The allotment was cancelled by the Supreme Court last year. Hafiz Ehtesham, the spokesperson for the Lal Masjid who was once very close to Aziz, said that he entered the mosque two weeks ago despite warnings that his presence would make things difficult. He said the police have surrounded the area and unidentified people are not allowed to enter the mosque. Ehtesham said that Haroon Rashid, Maulana Abdul Rashid’s nephew, has threatened him after he warned them of the consequences. “Haroon Rashid wants a clash,” he said. Abdul Rashid was Aziz’s brother who was killed during the 2007 siege.
