Musharraf wants 145;amicable146; solution to Islamic law issue

8220;I am praying to God to give them wisdom not to carry out their threats8230;. The Government wants to resolve the issue amicably,8221; the general said at a public meeting in Texila, referring to Maulana Abdul Aziz of Lal Masjid who had announced the setting up of a parallel Islamic court on Friday.

However, the Interior Ministry said it has decided to take legal action against Aziz for challenging the writ of the government.

Aziz is also backing Taliban-style moral policing by madrasa students in the capital and has given a month to music and video stores to shut shop.

Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao said the government is exercising restraint because of the sensitive nature of the matter.

Referring to the cleric8217;s threat to carry out suicide attacks in case the government ordered a crackdown, Musharraf said he was trying 8220;to act with prudence8221; in view of the prevailing situation.

The president said Pakistan 8220;is the citadel of Islam8221; and its Constitution guarantees that no law will be enacted contrary to Islamic injunctions.

In a related development, the government blocked the website of the Lal Masjid. Earlier, it had banned FM radio transmission from the mosque.

Six Supreme Court benches for ex-CJ cases

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Supreme Court8217;s acting Chief Justice Rana Bhagwan Das has constituted six special benches of the apex court to deal with dozens of cases relating to suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry, including his alleged manhandling by top police brass here. A large number of petitions have been filed by different parties, including those questioning the appointment of the non-Muslim Das as acting Chief Justice following Chaudhry8217;s suspension by President Musharraf.