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.
Auk happy now. See with your opaque glasses more then 400 had just because you were right and they were wrong. There is no difference between people like you and BUSH, he also thinks he is fighting a just war. Congratualtion my conservative brothers and to your stupid army. Go pray some sukrahnah nafils.
Difference Between a Civilian PM & a Military Ruler
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In 1998 a civilian PM, Mian Nawaz Sharif, said to US President Clinton that I am under public pressure to carry out nuclear tests after India had done the same. Today a military ruler told his cabinet that I am under duress from my western allies to end negotiations for a peaceful settlement to the Lal Masjid crisis.
This is something to deeply ponder about.
Read the inside story of the lal masjid operation at:
http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IG10Df04.html
Pakistan’s iron fist is to the US’s liking
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By Syed Saleem Shahzad
KARACHI - A last-minute intervention by Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf ended nine hours of negotiations seeking a peaceful end to the siege of the radical Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) in Islamabad.
Apparently saying he was “heavily under duress from his allies”, the president in the early hours of Tuesday instead ordered in the military to end the seven-day saga. Unconfirmed reports even say that Musharraf personally led the assault, along with Corps Commander Rawalpindi Lieutenant-General Tariq Majid. The media were barred from the mosque’s immediate vicinity.
Read on at:
http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IG11Df03.html
The News is now reporting that Ghazi is dead. They also included a brief biography on him as how he was once a well-adjusted “westernized” youth who was constantly reprimanded by his father for his ill ways. He finally “saw the light” when his father was killed by a lone gunman.
I am disappointed that Mullah Ghazi, the root cause of all this mayhem and killing of all those innocent people from both sides, hasn’t himself been killed so far. I suspect he will be captured alive and then given a pardon after a whiel under pressure from or deal with “ulema”.
I am however intrigued that the elder brother who was a proper maulana by training actually preferred to be a deserter instead of taking stand for his beliefs while younger one who was maulana only in beard and had a secular background initially, actually stood up to his cause however wrong it may be. Seems to me professional maulanas have it in their blood to be hypocrites.
All that happend is topi Drama. Only common man is suffering from this situation and parents of misguided students
Dear All, Whatever happend its wrong, basically i am from India, but first Muslim, we agree that the Lal Masjid Peple have done wrong but at the last moment government have done wrong. officially 40 killed (who are the 40) may be more than that. When Maulana Ghazi was ready four agreement even he was ready to release hostages suddenly what happend.
Its very bad decision by Musharraf its compltly politics, i am consequently watching PTV the correspondent & Government hided many facts.
Now Pakistan will be no longer Islamic Republic uits going on same Turkish culture.
We agree that Musharraf has done very good Job for Pakistan but here he has done great mistake and for future they have to suffered.
Thanks
I have a tears in my eyes not for these loss but for my helplessness as I can’t do any thing to save all this. We all are muslims and we are taking the life of our own brother and sisters. Its all awful. May Allah give us courange and right path to act on. Pray for all our muslim brothers and sisters.