Lashkar founder faces hostile media

As JUD, an organisation banned by US and put under 8220;watch list8221; by the Pakistan government, lined up a number of speakers to criticise the WPA, a local journalist asked the organisers 8220;to stop sermons and hold the press conference8221;.

The question-answer session that followed was focussed more on his jehadi background than the WPA, which amended the rape section of the purported Hudood ordinance warranting a rape victim to produce four Musilm witnesses to support her allegations failing which she would be prosecuted for adultery. JUD collected 11.51 million signatures in Pakistan opposing the WPA and demanding re-imposition of Hudood law.

When asked whether he was more involved in politics, Saeed said, 8220;Politics is not separate from religion. Tell me when did we stay away from politics. Religion and politics are one and whenever an issue comes we are always around.8221;

Anoter scribe asked, 8220;You started jehad after Americans asked you to do so and stopped it at their instance.8221;

Saeed initially said he wanted to confine himself to issues related to WPA but added, 8220;I have answers to all your questions. No work is stopped nor it will be stopped. But I want to focus today on WPA,8221; he said.

Asked whether he backed the demand for imposition of shariah by radical Lal Masjid clerics here, Saeed said talks were on among the clerics and government.