Pakistan Court Defers Red Mosque Cleric Hearing to 16 June

Text of report by Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency

Islamabad, 2 June: The Islamabad High Court [IHC] here Monday [2 June] adjourned till 16 June hearing of a bail plea of Maulana Abdul Aziz, former cleric of Lal Masjid [Red Mosque].

Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, advocate, requested for the early hearing of the bail application, which was accepted by the single bench of Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Aslam. Hearing of the bail plea was adjourned last week due to the indisposition of the chief justice.

The bench has already issued notice to the federation with a direction to submit a reply.

Maulana Aziz has been acquitted in 26 cases out of 27 by the trial courts. His bail application at the IHC is in connection with a case in which he was accused of forcible occupation of a children’s library. Earlier, on 28 April, a division bench comprising the IHC chief justice and Justice Raja Saeed Akram had granted bail to Maulana Aziz in four cases.

Originally published by Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, Islamabad, in English 1127 02 Jun 08.

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