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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan Red Mosque cleric bailed | Pakistan Red Mosque cleric bailed |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Pakistan's Supreme Court has ordered the release of a hardline Islamic cleric arrested when soldiers stormed the Red Mosque in Islamabad in 2007. | Pakistan's Supreme Court has ordered the release of a hardline Islamic cleric arrested when soldiers stormed the Red Mosque in Islamabad in 2007. |
| A lawyer for the cleric, Maulana Abdul Aziz, said his client had been granted bail while the court considered charges against him. | A lawyer for the cleric, Maulana Abdul Aziz, said his client had been granted bail while the court considered charges against him. |
| The BBC's M Ilyas Khan In Islamabad says it is not clear yet whether he has been released from detention. | The BBC's M Ilyas Khan In Islamabad says it is not clear yet whether he has been released from detention. |
| Mr Aziz escaped from the mosque in a burka shortly before it was stormed. | Mr Aziz escaped from the mosque in a burka shortly before it was stormed. |
| But he was detained soon after. | But he was detained soon after. |
| Liberal judgements | Liberal judgements |
| The raid on the mosque was prompted by the presence inside the building of dozens of heavily-armed militants. More than 100 people were killed in the ensuing battle. | The raid on the mosque was prompted by the presence inside the building of dozens of heavily-armed militants. More than 100 people were killed in the ensuing battle. |
| The storming of the Red Mosque shook Islamabad in 2007 | The storming of the Red Mosque shook Islamabad in 2007 |
| Our correspondent says that there is no suggestion that the cleric's bail is connected to the reappointment of Iftikhar Chaudhry last month as chief justice of Pakistan. | |
| Before his dismissal as chief justice by former President Pervez Musharraf in 2007, Mr Chaudhry had a reputation for making liberal judgements and rulings that were unpopular with the government. | Before his dismissal as chief justice by former President Pervez Musharraf in 2007, Mr Chaudhry had a reputation for making liberal judgements and rulings that were unpopular with the government. |
| Our correspondent says that Mr Aziz's impending release comes at a bad time for current President Asif Ali Zardari who is struggling to control increasing militancy in the north-west of the country. | Our correspondent says that Mr Aziz's impending release comes at a bad time for current President Asif Ali Zardari who is struggling to control increasing militancy in the north-west of the country. |
| Mr Aziz was granted bail by the high court in Islamabad in four cases nearly a year ago on condition that he pay 500,000 rupees (about $6,214). | Mr Aziz was granted bail by the high court in Islamabad in four cases nearly a year ago on condition that he pay 500,000 rupees (about $6,214). |
| In all 27 cases were brought against him initially - ranging from abetting terrorists to illegally occupying a building. | In all 27 cases were brought against him initially - ranging from abetting terrorists to illegally occupying a building. |
| Pakistan has a history of failing to prosecute militants, many of whom are believed to have once had links with the country's armed forces. | Pakistan has a history of failing to prosecute militants, many of whom are believed to have once had links with the country's armed forces. |
| The storming of the Red Mosque angered Islamic hardliners, who launched a series of suicide bombings and other attacks on the government and security forces in the months after it took place. | The storming of the Red Mosque angered Islamic hardliners, who launched a series of suicide bombings and other attacks on the government and security forces in the months after it took place. |
| They have continued almost unabated since then, alarming Pakistan's Western allies who are concerned about stability in the nuclear-armed state. | They have continued almost unabated since then, alarming Pakistan's Western allies who are concerned about stability in the nuclear-armed state. |