Tags:
Journalism of Courage
ISLAMABAD, FEB 10: Pakistani militant Maulana Masood Azhar, being held in "protective custody", might be released if he agrees to certain conditions, an Urdu daily reported here on Thursday.
Azhar, one of the three militants released by India to end the hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane in December, has been in the custody of Pakistani intelligence agencies for the last five days in Rawalpindi, Ausuf said.
The militant was taken into custody when he arrived here after being told by an intelligence agency that an "important meeting" would be held here, the daily quoting its sources said. It said that Azhar might be released on condition that he suspend the activities of his "Jaish-e-Muhammadi" and stop touring the country.
Meanwhile, his followers have been able to meet him, but they have not disclosed what transpired at these meetings, it said. A report in leading Urdu daily Jung said even after two days of media reports on the arrest of Azhar, the Government has refrained from issuing any statementin this connection. The daily quoted the militant’s uncle as saying that Azhar had been taken away by intelligence officials after which there was no word about him.
On Wednesday, a report in Ausuf quoted Azhar’s wife who had confirmed his arrest to the daily. The report in the Jung quoting the BBC said that the United States and some European countries had reacted strongly to Azhar’s announcement of launching his new outfit. Other militant organisations have also expressed reservations about the nascent group.
The report added that though the Government has not confirmed or denied Azhar’s arrest yet, it seems that the Pakistani Government has asked him to "shut his mouth to avoid a new crisis".
