Cleric's Spouse and 40 Women Charged with Terrorism in Major Disruption

The spouse of a former Lal Masjid cleric, along with 40 others, has been charged with terrorism after blocking a major road in protest. The group, led by Umme Hassan, confronted police, causing property damage and injuries. The incident reignites memories of the 2007 Lal Masjid controversy.

In a significant development, the spouse of a former Lal Masjid cleric, and 40 female students, have been charged with multiple offenses, including terrorism, the Pakistan-based daily Dawn reported on Tuesday. The charges, filed at the Lohi Bher police station, fall under Section 11-X of the Anti-Terrorism Act and several sections of the Pakistan Penal Code.

According to Dawn, the police revealed that a group from Jamia Hafsa, led by Umme Hassan, the wife of cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz, descended on Bahria Town Phase 4 armed and blocked a major thoroughfare. The protesters were decrying alleged immoral activities in the area, purportedly facilitated by local police and officials. The demonstrators forcibly closed businesses and issued severe threats to traders. When police invoked Section 144 of the CrPC to ban gatherings, the protesters reacted aggressively, attacking officers with batons and sticks, damaging official vehicles, and wielding weapons to enforce the closure of business centers.

Jamia Hafsa is a conservative madrassa associated with the controversial Lal Masjid in Islamabad. The Lal Masjid controversy, a pivotal episode in 2007, involved the mosque's increasing militant activities and anti-government sentiment. The Pakistani government, under President Pervez Musharraf, launched Operation Silence to reclaim control from militants in the mosque. The operation, marked by fierce combat and considerable casualties, spurred criticism from Islamic groups and heightened anti-government sentiment, exacerbating extremism in Pakistan.

(With inputs from agencies.)