Adil Najam
On Friday I was able to check off one more thing from my ‘to do’ list in Islamabad. I was able to visit Lal Masjid. In fact, it was a busy day since I also went back to the Supreme Court - this time to watch the proceedings on the ‘missing people’ case, and separately to see Acting Chief Justice Bhagwandas in action. Saturday, of course, promises to be even busier, with the big government rally in Islamabad, the Chief Justice in Karachi and the planned MQM rally in retaliation to him.
First, about the Supreme Court. I sat in to watch part of the proceedings on the missing persons case, where Asma Jehangir was pleading on behalf of the missing people Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). There were no real fireworks in the proceedings here, unlike my last time at the Supreme Court. From an ATP perspective the interesting thing was that I actually put to test just how easy it is for any citizen to just walk into the court, sit in the public gallery and watch the proceedings - this has become more difficult now for the Chief Justice’s case but for a case as sensitive as this one (missing persons), just just went in and sat down. No questions asked. The only ‘jugarh’ I had to use was to charm my way into a good parking spot. In fact, I roamed around the court and peeped into other courtrooms… luckily one was having a hearing where the Acting Chief Justice Bhagwandas was presiding. So I sat for a while there and listened to that too. All in all, this was just to prove that if you really want you will find a way to exercise your rights as a citizen - in this case simply your right to see the judicial system in action.
Second, the story that has not happened yet but is likely to happen soon. Karachi readers can fill us in on what is happening there with Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry’s visit there tomorrow and with MQM’s call for a rally against him. The TV channels are talking about it as if a violent clash of some kind is not simply a possibility but a very high liklihood - possibly as a prelude to an ‘emergency’. I hope they are wrong. Here in Islamabad, the government is all geared up to put up a big show and the PML-Q and its Punjab leadership is trying to make it a numbers game. They are talking about 500,000+ people. One is already seeing many many being bussed in. Government agencies including CDA has gone overboard in ‘organizing’ the rally which is supposedly PML’s and not the governments but all indications suggest otherwise. I even saw signs that are meant to direct people from different districts to different parts of Constitution Avenue, which was all lit up like a meena bazaar and garlanded in posters and banners. Whatever your view on teh matter, it is certainly going to be a numbers showdown tomorrow and the day will ultimately belong not just to those who will come out tomorrow (many, on all sides, forced to do so) but possibly even more to the spin doctors who will be having a field day of their own.
Now, finally, for our main story - Lal Masjid. Since it was a Friday, I thought I would go to the Lal Masjid for Jumma prayers. Growing up in Islamabad I had been there many years ago, but this time it was different. I passed by Jamia Hafsa, which is a much newer structure - in fact, the inside of Lal Masjid was also bigger and different to what I remembered from some 15 years ago. At least today, I did not see any danday (sticks) around - inside or outside.
The only really unusual incident was that on entering the mosque I was (very politely) stopped by one of the Madrassah students (with a huge and pleasant smile but no danda) who then proceeded to frisk me. To be fair, however, I was acting ’suspicious’ and so this was partly my own doing (plus, he was very polite about it, more so than the ‘checking’ I get at US or Pakistani airports!). Here is why I think I got the ‘frisk.’ First, since I had rushed from the Supreme Court and did not want to miss the khutba (part of which I did miss) I was still wearing a T-shirt and trousers (there were a few others in trousers there, but very few). Second, and more important, unlike most people going to a mosque for Jumma prayers who walk in purposefully, I had actually lingered outside, looking around, taking pictures (above), etc. So, given everything that has been happening, it is not surprising that they had people on the looking for ’suspicious characters,’ nor is it surprising that they considered me one. Moreover, they went about it not threateningly, but rather politely. So, even though being frisked on entering a mosque is not pleasant, no ill-will on this count from me.
As I said, the mosque itself seemed to be much bigger now from what I remembered. I entered from the Baab-i-Umar Farooq, a small gate across the road from what used to be the Naval Headquarters’ and is now the Ministry of Environment’s car park. One entered a fairly large and spacious courtyard which had various posters in it and various collection spots for donations. Since I had just been frisked I did not linger here much to read the posters in detail. At least one had Al-jihad written on it in large and bold calligraphy but it seemed to be a general poster rather than for a specific cause or organization. On the left was a large wuzu area. Much better designed (in terms of useability), I thought, than most mosques in Pakistan. Not cramped for space and comfortable to use.
From what I remember, the Lal Masjid used to be the main mosque for the people living in the populous sectors around the Aabpara area. Today, just by looking at their dress, the vast majority seemed to be Madrassa students. However, it was not just them. There were also a decent number of people who seemed to have come from their offices or shops (some with their children) to say their Juma prayers. At least this was the impression I got of the congregation from looking around me.
By the time I got in the khutba was already well progressed. The theme of the day seemed to be the fazeelat (importance) of Juma (Friday) and Juma prayers. On this issue the content was what you might have heard in countless mosques around the country and what many of us would have heard countless times. The style of delivery of the khutba was also very typical and nothing unusual there. However, the political issues were woven into the khutba very heavily and in the portion I heard there was much more of the political speech than a discussion of the importance of Friday prayers. Nothing new in the political content of the speech either, but it was eerie to listen to it sitting there.
Frankly, I found listening to this part of the khutba far more disturbing than the frisking earlier. Amongst the key points was a long, very impassioned, highly confident and strongly triumphant discourse on how hundreds of mosques around the country were now joining “our movement” and how the “seeds sown in Islamabad were already blossoming all over the country.” The point was also made that the government and other “modernizers” had recieved the “message” and that they could no longer ignore the demands of this “movement.” This was done in a populist style and by invoking the every-day problems that people face and how they are fed-up with corrupt and inefficient government.
A second major point, amongst the political ones, was on dialogue with the government. The point made here was that “we” (i.e., the Lal Masjid and Hafsa Madrassa, I assume) are always ready for “muzaakraat” (dialouge/negotiations) but will not give in on “usool” (principles)… The government, it was said, is not meeting “our” demands and they will have to do that if it is “real muzaakraat“. The third important point was about how Islam is a religion of peace but when the believer sees injustice then they have to act against it. The point was made with the obvious reference to and as justification of recent actions from Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa.
So, there you have it. I have tried to recount what I heard and saw as honestly as I can. Although I feel strongly about the political issues at stake here; and although there was much that went through my mind as I heard this, I will not go into that here. But one thing I should say by way of disclosure. As I stood up to say my prayers, I did wonder whether it was right of me to say my prayers ‘behind’ people whose methods and actions I strongly disagree with. I told myself, however, that my faith and my prayers are for my God and are between me and my God and no one else (not even my readers here). My presence at the Lal Masjid today, on the other hand, was for ATP and for finding out - as a citizen of Pakistan - what was happening in my country. I am glad I went, and glad I wrote this. I hope that the comments that will follow will not make me change my opinion on this.
[quote comment=”47738″]It seems like Ayesha Sajid only cares about what “western critics” think of Islam. What a pity. How come no one is complaining about the “ghunda gardi” of MQM and others in Karachi?[/quote]
A lot of people have complained about MQM ghundagurdee, in fact the whole nation has. Where were you last few days? It does not however justify lal masjid’s ghundagurdee. Same rule should apply to everyone.
From Ayub Khan’s Diary;
تیننومبر :
معروÙÂ? مورخ ڈاکٹر امیر ØÂÂسنصدیقی اسلامà ›Å’ تاریخØņ™ آئیناور سیاسی اداروں Ú©Û’ موضوع پر اپنی تصنیÙÂ?Ø §Øª Ù„Û’ کر مجھ سے ملنے آئےÛâ€? انکا Ú©ÛÂ?نا ÛÂ?Û’ Ú©ÛÂ? اسلام کوبچانÛâ€⠄¢ کا واØÂÂد راستÛÂ? ÛŒÛÂ? ÛÂ?Û’ Ú©ÛÂ? مولوÛà …’ کا صÙÂ?ایا کردیا جائےÛâ€? میں Ù†Û’ وزارتÙÂ? تعلیم اور اطلاعØ §Ã˜Âª سے Ú©ÛÂ?ا ÛÂ?Û’ Ú©ÛÂ? انسے استÙÂ?ادà ›Â? کرے اور انÛÂ?یں مغربی پاکستاà ƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬Â اوقاÙÂ? بورڈکی مجلسÙÂ? مشاورØ ª میں بھی شامل کیا جائےÛâ€?
since menu/exit does not show if its a male or a female so i do not know wehter i should address you as sir or madam, but in anycase if you read the headline of the thread you will find out that this one is regarding the mullah extremism and not the MQM ghunda gardees, for that i suggest you go through the site and find one that concerns the topic you seem so concerned about.
having said that , you are absolutely right about the apathy this nation has is linked to us not thinking straight about issues because we seem to get bogged down by taking personell punches at our fellow citizens.
My point in bringing forth the western mis conceptions was not because i am only concerned what the west has to say about us but the fact that Islam was spread by personell examples of the prophet (peace be upon him) and his companions , not by them taking swords and chopping off the heads of the non believers which is what these self proclaimed schions of islam are trying to do.
And no Mullahs are not the only ones to be blamed for what is wrong with our society today …. at the expense of repeating my self let me say that it is citizens of this society en mass , myself included.
If only each one of us would ask ourselves every night before going to sleep , what did i do today that can make this society a better place to live in , and wake up each morning asking ourselves , what one thing i can do today that will make me a better human and this country a better place to live in …..
wouldent we be in a utopian nirvana ??
It seems like Ayesha Sajid only cares about what “western critics” think of Islam. What a pity. How come no one is complaining about the “ghunda gardi” of MQM and others in Karachi? This is so normal in Pakistan. Such a lawelessly pathetic corrupt nation it has become. Everyone has a reason to blame someone. This time it’s the mullas, last time it was someone else. The sheer inability to properly think about these issues is the reason where we’re at today.
LAL MASJID HOLDS FOUR COPS HOSTAGE …THe News/ May 19th, 2007.Local Taliban of Lal Masjid this time kidnapped four police officals of two police stations …Bahara Kahu and Sihala and confined them at the seminary Friday evening, demanidnthe release of 15 people including Khalid Khwaja detained by some investigating agencies !!
Why is the administration of Lal Masjid being given this free hand to do as they please and create a state within a state ?
Why is the government looking the other way when these goons are going around as if they own the capital city ?
Why is the police bending over themselves to accomadate the demands of these stone age touts of a demented man ?
Maulana Abdul Aziz and his chicks with sticks/talibans have indeed given strength to the Western mis conception of Islam being spread through the sword.
And what are we doing about it ???
NOTHING !
News from Islamabad is that teh Taliban at Lal masjid people have kidnapped 15 policemen and keeping them hostage.
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id =7929
Adil Najam should feel lucky that they only frisked him and did not go further… this time they did.
You know even though I don’t agree with the lal masjid / hafsa tactics .. but it seems like in Pakistan things get done with “danday ka zore”. It’s a pity that this social issue is being used to defame Islam and those who practice Islam by the liberals and modernists. This by far is the worst example of extremely biased and unjust way to deal with such an issue. I blame the extremists on both sides for not using their brains properly.
The long and short of the Lal Mosque is that this mosque was built on a small piece of land in the Capital (Islamabad) many years ago. Gradually it kept expanding and now comprises of a Mosque and a Madressa(school) where more than 3000 girls study and memorize the Quran , A few months ago the govt demolished some mosques in the capital terming them all as ”unauthorised” . However, one of the mosque so demolished had existed there from the time of the Moguls and the others were more than 15 to 30 years old , a time when Islamabad was just a developing land. The veiled girls of the school protested against the demolition of the mosques as well as refused to vacate the lal mosque and the madressah and an adjacent children library. This led to a great row all over Pakistan. The govt initially tried to vacate the premises forcibly through various police and commando tactics but the girls strongly resisted so much so that they were constrained to arm themselves with battons .
Finally, the govt began negotiations with them and an agreement was reached that the govt would rebuild all the demolished mosques and promulgate and enforce Islamic laws in the country in their true sense. In return the girls would vacate the children library which the govt is interested to acquire. The girls have warned that if the govt tried to vacate their premises by force they will retaliate and adopt ‘’suicide bombing” all over Pakistan. Other madressahs in the country have joined in with them as a result of which the govt has stepped back.
The irony is that the leaders of the existing Islamic parties are not in their favor and have reflected negative attitude towards the girls rigid demand for Islamization. Finding the govt law enforcing agencies inactive in curbing the lascivious activities prevalent in Islamabad , the girl students of this madressah took direct action against a woman of easy virtue who was said to be running a den. This action of the girls could be termed as the action of a ”muhallah committee” which do take such actions as a matter of normal practice in Pakistan, where ‘pmchayat’ and ‘jirga’ system continues to exist as a customary way to root out evil and resolve mutual social disputes in the country. Unfortunately, some staunch muslims impressed by the girls demand for Islam and end to lechery protested against the sale of videos and forced them to close down their business. Neesless to say the vidoes sold at the video shops are mostly lecherous stuff from the West and serves the dirty needs of the higher and so called enlightened part of the society which, Needless to say, would be naturally averse to this action ,,,,,The govt which has badly failed in putting down lechery in the country and infact is blatantly promoting it , alongwith the support of some NGO’s, in the name of ‘moderate enlightenment’
did not feel pleased with the idea of bringing Islam to Pakistan –Islam on the ideology of which Pakistan was created
There is every doubt that the govt will not comply with its agreement with the Madressah or the girls and anything can go wrong any time. And certainly that would cause yet another hell..
Mazhar