Pak radicals to target dance clubs in international hotels

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Pak radicals to target dance clubs in international hotels

Islamabad, June 25: Radical clerics of Lal Masjid involved in a stand-off with the government over the enforcement of Taliban-style moral policing, are set to target dance clubs and massage parlours operating in "international hotels" in the federal capital.

"Yes, we have spotted another massage centre being run by men and women jointly in a posh area of the federal capital and have gathered all information about it," Lal Masjid Deputy Administrator Maulana Abdul Rashid Ghazi was quoted as saying by the post daily.

The Lal Masjid administration is looking to "attack" dance clubs and massage parlours operating in "international hotels" in Islamabad, sources within the mosque said.

"In fact, the parlour is a mini-brothel operating since years. We have warned the owners of the massage centre and are also monitoring their activities on daily basis," the Maulana said, adding that the Lal Masjid administration would certainly ask them to stop their "immoral activities."

"This time the mosque administration will likely attack a massage parlour being run by Pakistanis," sources said, adding that "the attack" on the next target is expected soon.

Baton-wielding Islamist students of Jamia Hasfa, the seminary affiliated with Lal Masjid, raided a Chinese massage parlour late on Friday and abducted nine Chinese nationals including six women for indulge in "immoral" and "un-Islamic" activities.

The nine were released on Saturday after an assurance from the Islamabad administration that such centres would be closed. Maulana Ghazi said the Chinese nationals were released keeping in view the importance of Pakistan-China friendship.

Bureau Report