Masood Azhar quashes death rumours in audio message, chides Pak authorities for cracking down on JeM: reports

In the audio message that was reportedly released on Jaish-encrypted chat platforms in the evening of March 6, he asked the authorities to stop persecuting the mosques, madarasa and mujahideen

By : ABP News Bureau | Updated at : 07 Mar 2019 01:38 PM (IST)

Masood Azhar quashes death rumours in audio message, chides Pak authorities for cracking down on JeM: reports Masood Azhar quashes death rumours in audio message, chides Pak authorities for cracking down on JeM: reports

Maulana Masood Azhar (Source: AFP)

In the audio message, Azhar rejected reports worldwide about his death

He reportedly chided Pakistan for cracking down on JeM

He hinted that he is active in affairs of the institution

New Delhi: As Pakistan intensified its crackdown on proscribed outfits and arrested key Jaish-e-Mohammed leaders, the terror group’s chief Masood Azhar reportedly released an audio message and quashed the rumours of his death in addition to warning the authorities against clamping down on the jihadist group. Several media reports claimed that the voice in the message is that of Azhar. In the audio message that was reportedly released on Jaish-encrypted chat platforms in the evening of March 6, he asked the authorities to stop persecuting the mosques, madarasa and mujahideen. “Fear God”, he said. In the message, Azhar reportedly hinted that he is active in the affairs of his organisation, despite Pakistan’s claim of keeping him in a preventive custody. As per reports, Azhar said in the message that as he was working on the speech, he was faced with some work related to a congregation that came up. He said his energies were diverted to writing a speech. As per reports, he also spoke about the reports of his death and said that God alone decides how long one is to live. He dated his message March 4. He also added that he has no way of knowing whether he will be alive when the message is played. In large part of his speech, Azhar criticised India and blamed Pakistan’s politicians for taking action against Jaish, said reports.