Islamabad: The political alliance of religious parties, Muthida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), condemned clashes between the security forces and militants in Lal Masjid and said that the clashes should stop and a ceasefire must be negotiated.
MMA secretary general and leader of opposition at the National Assembly Maulana Fazlur Rahman cancelled the anti-government road "caravan" and arrived in the federal capital where he has called an emergency meeting of religious scholars of all schools of thought.
"We condemn the bloodshed on both sides and urge the government to stop security forces from taking action against the administration and students of Lal Masjid," Rahman said in a statement to the media.
Rehman declined to mediate between the government and the Lal Masjid several times in recent weeks and said the administration of Lal Masjid does not honour his mediation.
Dozens of religious scholars have gathered in Jamia Mohammadia, a religious seminary, to discuss the situation. The MMA's member of National Assembly Shah Abdul Aziz visited the Lal Masjid and talked to the administration for a ceasefire and a negotiated end to the crisis.
Aziz told the media that he had spoken to the chief and deputy chief of the Lal Masjid and they said that they are willing to start negotiation provided all the Rangers and police forces are withdrawn immediately.
