The Hindu : Masood Azhar resurfaces, preaches jehad

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 01, 2003

Front Page

Front Page

Masood Azhar resurfaces, preaches jehad

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD May 31. A defiant Maulana Masood Azhar, chief of the banned Jaish-e-Mohammad, continues to breathe fire and preach the path of `jehad' (holy war).

While the Peshawar police did prevent him on Friday from addressing a conference organised by Khudam-ul-Islam, which police believe is a reincarnation of the Jaish, he later surfaced at a local mosque and addressed a gathering.

According to media reports, he not only eulogised Osama bin-Laden and Mullah Omar but also made a forceful speech on the need for the faithful to join against the ``secular forces''.

It is immediately not clear if the Pakistan Government is contemplating any cases against him.

In his sermon on Friday, Azhar has been quoted as saying that secular forces were adamant to eliminate jehad and accused the rulers of acting as agents.

He told the gathering that those involved in such ``treacherous'' activities would be destroyed.

Azhar has been quoted as saying that most of the Muslim rulers who had the lust for power were playing into the hands of these secular forces.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

Stories in this Section

China ready to deepen ties with India, says Hu

Putin invites PM, Bush to dinner

CBI chargesheet against Advani

Not afraid: Uma Bharti

Cong. keen on alliances: Sonia

Naidu's poser to Sonia

Masood Azhar resurfaces, preaches jehad

EPF interest rate reduced

Petrol, diesel prices slashed

'Shilpa's father absconding'

Suu Kyi in custody