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.
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.