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.
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
I have an idea for a new ATP Opinion Poll. Which is the greater threat to Pakistan: Military government or Rise of religious extremism like in Lal Masjid? What should be the first priority for Pakistanis and which is the bigger danger to our future?
Salaams Prof Najam,
Hope yourself and family are well, iA.
I’ve been reading mostly on the BBC website about the standoff and as I read about the people inside, the families outside and the physical destruction of the building it brings on a sense of deep sadness — we are destroying ourselves. Not to be overly dramatic, but the fact that they have turned a masjid into a fort seems to be a poignant illustration of the polarisation within that is only going to get worse before it gets better. Once this is over, what will they destroy next?
Yours,
Amna
Salamalikum,
Baber, I’m not sure if you are sincere about studying the history or just trying to prove a point that I can’t back up what I’ve stated. Anyhow, I don’t want to list books to show off that I know names of books or have read them. But, since you asked for detailed book, I will list two very authentic and in-depth book on history:
Al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah by Imam Abul Fida ibn Kathir. [8 or more volumes depending on binding and maktab]
Tarikh al-Rusul wa’l muluk by Imam al-Tabari [extremely voluminous >30 volumes]
al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah should be enough because it was written 400 or so years after al-Tabari’s tarkih but I gave both in case you say ‘you listed just one book’. There are others as well.
Now, onus is on you to read it if you know Arabic or have parts of it translated. But, you might be able to find small parts translated in various languages.
Yes, I was able to find “only” Aurangzeb among the Mughals. What did you expect? I will mention Akbar, may Allah give him what he deserves, who created deen-e-ilahi?! Yes, just jizya doesn’t mean shariat. But, you don’t go from nothing of shariat to just jizya. Jizya was part of shariat that implemented. I already conceded in my comments to the fact that he implemented what his power allowed him because of sizable Hindu population.
You are quite wrong–Taliban failed to understand shariat and implemented it correctly. They have the same level of education, mindset and methodology that Ghazi brothers are showing. And, you can talk to any jayyid scholar who doesn’t come out in street and makes useless threats and slogans but has acutual knowledge and ask them if Ghazi brothers are Aaim-e-deen! I don’t want to sound arrogant or belittle you, but you are really speaking out of ignorance on this issue of they being scholars or not.
I again say, you think they will be able to show authentic ijaazats for their knowledge? Just one ijaazat/chain? This is not the place for me to discuss all theological issues. Suggest a different forum if you want and then maybe we can discuss this.
Musharraf tells mosque
militants “surrender or die
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070707/ts_nm/pakistan _mosque_dc
I am against this ..people should not have to die ..
are we going to see another bloodshe like US saw when Davi Koresk refused to come out ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Koresh