Islamabad, July 8 (PTI): Battling the radicals holed up in Lal Masjid, Pakistan security forces are gearing up to take on another set of well entrenched extremists led by a cleric, in a tribal area, who has issued a decree asking people to attack anyone supporting the crackdown on the Islamabad mosque.

The Government has decided to launch a massive operation against the banned Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat Mohammadi (TNSM) leader Maulana Fazalullah in the tribal Malakand agency of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), media reports said here.

Fazalullah is a close associate of Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz, arrested while trying to sneak out from the besieged mosque in a burqa four days ago, and his younger brother Abdul Rashid Ghazi, who is leading the resistance.

Fresh deployment of troops started following an announcement of war against security forces by Fazalullah after the operation against Lal Masjid, the Post daily said.

The situation is alarmingly deteriorating in Swat district as most of the students of the madrassas affiliated to Lal Masjid are hailing from the region.

Also, after the security operation Fazaullah, through his illegally-run FM Radio, had issued a statement saying anyone who supported the crackdown was an 'infidel'. He called the religious leaders supporting the present government as "rebels of Islam".

After the operation in Lal Masjid began several attacks against the security forces took place in the Agency.

Pakistan's Minister of State for Information, Tariq Azeem, said he would have to verify the reports.

The News daily said Fazaullah issued a decree against supporters of the action against Lal Masjid and warned the government against conducting military operations.