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.
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Kindly analyse all the things on reality grounds and you all would know the difference between individual opinions and what are actually the prime reasons behind this Lal Masjid crisis.
1)During Afghan War, Zia Govt. created these “Mujahids” to fight against Russian Army with support from American CIA. The word “Jihad” and “Mujahideen” were used for the first time to justify that War to the people. And Yes, indeed Pak Army was part of it and especially ISI. The “Mujahids” were also supported by American Arms and Ammunition.
2)As the War came to an end, These Mujahids were then diverted to “Kashmir” and Yes the Hatchery of these Mujahids were the Madrassahs whom Govt supported deliberately. Please go back to the time when there was tension b/w India and Pakistan and you will recall Musharraf saying to the West in support of the Mujahideens that they are freedom fighters and not infiltrators as India used to say.
3)Now after easing out of tensions b/w India and Pakistan, these Mujahideens ran out of business and were left with nothing. Now you can easily understand why at the first instant there was no operation by the Govt forces against Lal Masjid etc.
4)The other most important aspect is that after the end of Russian war these Mujahideens were abandoned by American CIA. There was a long undercover cold car b/w CIA and these Mujahideens which was only revealed to the world when ultimately bombings and other such events began to happen.
So this is the whole story which nothing has to do with Islam or religion etc. The most easiest thing in Pakistan is to use religious emotions to take cover.
Everybody discussing on ATP should leave alone the emotions and should analyse rationally and in light of international politics the whole story.
This is not the end and such events are very much likely to happen in the future also.
Pak Army and CIA were the creators of these people and now the creation is challenging the creator. Simple.
Ibhrahim,
The taliban type of government was endrossed by pakistan and saudi govt. It was acknowledged by most of the mufties in Pakistan. Even the one who live in my area gulshan-i-iqbal 13 J-1, Medina Masjid. Yes I know Arabic and appreciate recommended the books and I will read and get back to you. I don’t Pakistan can ever have all the sharaiat laws may be some that too may be under a democractic govt. These political mullahs will never get a chance to lead.
Well Aqil in my mind there is no doubt that Islam is best religion. But when it comes to a system of government, you can solve differences in a peaceful democratic way in a democracy only!
The above debate on the merits and demerits of shariah is irrelevant to the lal masjid issue. People can differ on the kind of laws they want and they are entitled to their opinions. The question is how these disagreements are to be resolved?
If I am unhappy about something, should I have the right to take up arms and challange the state or should I try to advance my cause through peaceful and democratic means? If the answer is not in black and white, then under what circumstances is militant defiance to the rit of state justifiable? That’s the main issue in case of lal masjid.
BTW, looking at how shararti people are able to go on without any ’saza ka maqool intizam’ being put to use suggests that the ATP comment policy should state “shararti logon kay liay sharart ka maqool intizam hai”
Those people who call this Lal Masjid episode a “drama” and blame the govt are cowards who are fleeing the truth and seeking refuge in conspiracies and fiction.
Such folks condemn the govt for not taking action against extremists, then condemn their govt for taking action against extremists.
Naseem these are Utopian dreams. Do you remember “Jang jamal(first civil war of muslims which was fought 20 years after prophet wisal).
Only a western style liberal democracy is our best chance of progress. Muslims are always fighting with each other on name of power, true islam etc.
Just create a liberal and just system of democracy with freedom of speech and everyone will be happy. To me thats the best system humnan civilization experienced yet.
Asslamau Laikum all,
This dreadful(yet incomplete) episode has shown “musalmaniat” (not a word but you know what I mean)in the most dreadful light.
Everybody thinks that this is the standard of shariat (and why they don’t want it) and then by extension imagine it to be the same light that Rasoolillah (saw) showered upon us.
I am feeling tearful, anxiety, sorrow and anger that WE muslims could allow Rasoolillah’s (saw) light to be mixed and seen in this manner especially by kaffur.
After this incident is over, I would like to see the best Islamic scholars do proper research of the shariat prescribed by Rasoolillah (saw), and agree with hukamat as to how best to phase it in (over a few of years) as complimentry law of Pak.
We all know that Rasoolillah (saw) can never be wrong…thus by extension his shariat cannot be wrong…sharit will implement itself as peoples take to it.
Let Pak be the best shining example of the implementation of sharit…let us bow to Rasoolillah (saw) and beg forgivness that it took us so over 60 years before we reaslised our mistake.
Ironically, this incident could give the best platform for shariat implementation in Pak…let’s not blow it.
Pretty lame thinking to blame lal masjid managment for the shortage of food,electricity and gas in entire mohallah. All of these things were cutt off by government not by lal masjid people. If it’s a tactic then officials could cut the supply of the single building rather torturing entire mohallah. It’s not a big thing and even layman could cut the supply of electricity,gas and water of his own home. Why was it so difficult for lal masjid and associated madarassahs? were they using some technology that they couldn’t track the main supply lines? All is being done to provoke people of certain area to come out on roads,protest,burn tires so that dictator could send message to his uncle sam that , “dekho ye horaha hay yahan, ab tapar hey tu mujhe power sey hata�. It’s just fascism that torturing entire mohalla for sake of bunch of people.
I was just watching azfar and mani show, they put up a valid point that is, more this drama goes on, people would start showing sympathy towards ghazi rasheed because the way now media showing him,he’s coming out as a lost and loser person who is nothing but frustrated. IF this is govt’s plan to potray him like that then it’s another case otherwise the “Yazeediat� which is being demonstrated by govt could go against him. Since the day operation has started,atleast 3 attacks have been made on army officials. This is very very alarming situation. If operation results such things then such operation is pretty useless against mushrraf’s war against psuedo terrorism because the problem still exist, even getting bigger after the opration but since the motive was to distract the attention from other crucial issues like CJ,APC and now Balochistan crisis, musharraf is successfull.