Abdul Aziz Ghazi Criticizes Pakistani Government
The cleric's comments have highlighted the growing discontent among Pakistanis with their government, with many taking to social media to express their outrage and frustration. The incident has also sparked a debate about the country's ideological stance on India and its role in the region, with some questioning the government's priorities and legitimacy.
Abdul Aziz Ghazi, a cleric at Islamabad's Lal Masjid, has launched a scathing attack on the Pakistani government, accusing it of inflicting systemic violence and injustice on its citizens, citing incidents of oppression, missing persons, and human rights abuses.
In a video clip, Ghazi claimed that a war with India would not be an Islamic war, given the deepening crisis within Pakistan. He questioned the government's legitimacy, pointing to the 2007 military operation at Lal Masjid, as well as atrocities in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Waziristan. Ghazi's comments have sparked controversy, with many viewing him as a once-establishment figure now openly opposing the PM Shehbaz Sharif-led government.
The cleric also compared Pakistan's system to India's, stating that the former is worse and more oppressive, with more incidents of human rights abuses and missing persons. When Ghazi asked his audience if they would support Pakistan in a war with India, he received a "dead silence" response, suggesting a lack of enthusiasm for the idea. This incident has sparked outrage on Pakistani social media and is seen as a reflection of growing disillusionment within Pakistan with its civil-military leadership and ideological stance on India.
Ghazi's criticism of the Pakistani government and its comparison to India's system has left the nation unsure of its footing both at home and on the international stage. The moment is seen as a sign of deeper fractures within Pakistan, with internal dissent paired with recent nuclear posturing and panic-driven diplomacy in Islamabad.