Adil Najam
UPDATE: Reports in the Pakistan media suggest that the Lal Masjid leader has finally been arrested while trying to escape wearing a burqa. According to a BBC update:
The leader of a radical mosque besieged by Pakistani security forces in Islamabad has been caught trying to escape wearing a woman’s burqa. Security forces seized Abdul Aziz as he tried to leave the Red Mosque amid a crowd of women… He was wearing a burqa that also covered his eyes,” a security official told the AFP news agency about the cleric’s escape bid. “Our men spotted his unusual demeanour. The rest of the girls looked like girls, but he was taller and had a pot belly.“
ORIGINAL POST: Things are moving fast and the showdown at Lal Masjid, Islamabad that began this morning is now ready to turn into an even more real battle. The day took the lives of at least 10 people, possibly more. These included policemen, soldiers, by-standers, a journalist, and a number of Madrassah students. (For details see our earlier post and update comments on it, here).
The latest – and this keeps changing by the minute – is that in a mid-night press conference the government has given an ultimatum to the management of the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) to surrender. There is no indication that they will. In the past things have always ended with ‘negotiated settlements.’ This time the likelihood of this happening is much less. A curfew has been imposed in the area. Tanks have been called in. So have special forces.
Metroblog Islamabad is doing a wonderful job of keeping abreast with breaking news. It reports, through Dawn TV, that 111 Brigade (Army) from Rawalpindi has already assembled around the mosque. Ambulances have been fully stocked. Hospitals are on alert. An ultimatum for time has been given (3.30 PST… NOW!). The entire area has been cordoned off.
Here is a news clip from ARYOne, broadcast earlier.
In an article written last week for The News, I had argued that inaction was not a solution and because of so many delays and policies of apeasement some confrontation was now becoming inevitable.
This episode [i.e., the Chinese massage parlor case] will further embolden the already violence-prone brigands at the two madressahs and we are likely to see an escalation in their demands as well as their tactics. Meanwhile, the government has once again demonstrated an inability and/or unwillingness to act decisively. The much-cherished ‘writ of the state’ continues to rot in tatters.
This, it seems, is what happened when earlier the Lal Masjid management incited this escalation in response to the government’s build-up of force around the mosque. In that article, I had gone on to argue that:
Just like standing still in the middle of the road at the sight of the blinding lights of a truck speeding towards it does not save the life of the stunned deer, doing nothing about this escalating crisis out of fear that doing anything will only make things worse is not going to help the government, or Pakistan. Something needs to be done, and done fast.
I had called in the article for the government to “act to judiciously dismantle militancy at Lal Masjid.” This situation has to be responded to. But the key word remains “act judiciously.” What is really important is how that action is taken. Further bloodshed should be avoided. At least minimized. One hopes that any action is intelligent action and all steps are taken to minimize loss of life. Not just because one does not wish to create needless ‘martyrs.’ Much more so because all life – and everyone’s life – is precious.
The technologies to undertake low casualty offensives are available. The will and sagacity to do so is needed. The test for the government – acting with force in the very center of the Federal Capital – is not only what it does, but how it does it.
Photo credit: Associated Press, B.K. Bangash.
Is govt going to file case against student of Becon House students as well who took part in last raid?
It would be pretty immature thinking that lal masjid drama is ended. I alredy qouted today’s jang news clip about how people in sawat reacted. Hamza also quoted few news. So just keep finger crossed. I hope we don’t experience more bloodshed.
@Atif: even if students were pressurized by lal managment, it’s great to know that students were not harmed by any party and they were free to leave premises.
I am still trying to figure out why lal masjid case got popular much? is it because:
– their danda type action against something which THEY dislike
OR
-their action against places like brothers,clubs,private places,parlours which are being promoted in name of “Enlightment and moderation”? As Ansar Abbasi’s report states that people of area are/were disturbed due to such enlightment by liberals but police as usual were unable to take actions. Mind you, ansar abbasi has yet proved himself a pretty balanced guy and tried his best to give balanced reporting. Some “jiyala” might call him a “mullah” due to his beared. :-)
IMO, the second point matters most. Why? it has already been discussed a lot here. Otherwise illegal property,Danda action and other things are “topi drama”. how could we talk about legal in a city like Islamabad which itself is not a legal city? something i don’t understand at all.
I hope someone would continue to follow “Intentions” of lal managment without lifting any danda in hand or by force. that’s necessary otherwise those who are chanting right now against such “raids” could suffer themselves one day in presence of such brothels etc. I mean only some sick person would like to see a brothel in his area.
I didn’t hear much about flood relief today due to this whole drama. I hope there is good news for those poor chaps.
very well said AUK, finally someone moderate.
no offense to others though :)
This is getting a little funny, or atleast what I am hearing from Geo. Now the other brother is “willing to negotiate”, “willing to surrender in front of Ulema”, “willing to end the occupation of the library”. What is this crap? The game has come to an end. The only reason Abdul Aziz is not in a cell already is because there are still people inside, and they want to end it without more bloodshed. However that does not mean that Abdul Rashid has any choices left. He along with the other brother have already exhausted their options. Let’s just get it over with and get atleast the capital back to normalcy.
I do have to say something about the students in the madrassah. They are no Taliban, so please stop labeling them, and stop sounding like Bush. These are poor kids from underprivileged backgrounds, and they can easily go back to their families. While we keep throwing labels so easily, we need to look at what we as a society and as a country are doing for these kids who are born with no hope and with no future. We don’t provide them with healthcare, and we don’t provide them with basic education. What have we as a country done to provide universal education to our children. Unless we resolve these basic problems, this nuisance is not going to go away.
Oh ho…..now the Shuj of Guj has stepped in…..now the Govt will lay a “hola haath” on the criminal mullahs. We all know where the sympathies of shuj of guj and co lie.
Eventually the drama is about to end:
Other Topi is ready to surrender after sacrificing 20 people!!!!(may be more)
Where is the motivation and lectures which they were relaying to masses? intersting situation…
It is well clear that it is a staged drama however, final episode may be different or opposite to wht have been told to these brothers by script writters.