KARACHI, Pakistan: In Pakistan's biggest city Karachi, a massive rally was organized on Sunday against a radical religious school which has begun a Taliban-style anti-vice campaign in the capital, Islamabad.

"The people of Islamabad are insecure and under threat due to the activities of these religious terrorists," said Altaf Hussain, head of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, addressing the rally by telephone from London.

He said the religious radicals in Islamabad's Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, and adjoining Jamia Hafsa madrasa were hurting the image of Islam.

"Islam is a religion of peace and it does not need Kalashnikovs and sticks," he told the rally.

Moderate Muslims in Pakistan were shocked earlier this month when a cleric announced a religious shariat court had been set up at Lal Masjid to enforce a strict Islamic code of justice, and threatened to retaliate with suicide bombers if the government tried forcibly to suppress the movement.