Maulana Abdul Aziz

A hard-line Islamic cleric who had tried to impose Taliban-style rule here in the capital returned Friday to the city’s Red Mosque, the scene of a bloody siege nearly two years ago, and vowed to continue his struggle to enforce Islamic law in the country.

Pakistani men pray next to a bullet-ridden vehicle parked in the compound of the Red Mosque as the chief cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz speaks to supporters during Friday prayers.

The cleric, Maulana Abdul Aziz, was released Thursday night after the Supreme Court granted him bail. The charges he faces include involvement in terrorist acts and abetting terrorists, and he was held under house arrest for almost two years.

After his release, Mr. Aziz, known for his extremist and anti-American views, said that he no longer supported suicide bombings against Muslims and that his struggle would remain peaceful, local news reports said. Those reports said he still supported suicide bombings against non-Muslims, but provided no details.

In a sermon delivered after Friday Prayer in the Red Mosque, he hinted that he would again consider turning to violence, according to Reuters.