Islamabad Cleric Critiques Pakistan Amid Rising India Tensions

Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, controversial Pakistani cleric Abdul Aziz Ghazi of Islamabad’s Lal Masjid has sharply criticized the Pakistani government, calling it oppressive and worse than India's. In widely circulated sermons, Ghazi argued that a war with India would not be an Islamic war and questioned the legitimacy of such a conflict, noting a lack of support for Pakistan among his audience. He accused the Pakistani state of systemic violence, including bombing its own citizens in regions like Waziristan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and highlighted issues such as enforced disappearances and the 2007 Lal Masjid siege. Ghazi contrasted this with India, claiming it does not perpetrate similar atrocities against its citizens or Muslims. His remarks reflect a growing internal disillusionment and frustration with Pakistan’s governance and military actions, especially in minority regions. The cleric’s statements come as India has suspended key bilateral agreements with Pakistan and blocked trade following the recent attack.