Adil Najam
The news is developing by the moment. But the bottom-line is clear. The security forces have taken control of the Lal Masjid from militants after a severe gun-battle. But the story is far from over.
It will continue to unfold. There are too many unanswered questions. They will certainly be asked and discussed threadbare; here at ATP and elsewhere. But the real story of tomorrow remains the same as the real story of yesterday. Can a society that is so deeply divided against itself learn the lessons of tolerance? This question will continue to haunt us well into the future, in multiple shapes, in multiple forms, in multiple contexts.
This is a question that we at ATP have confronted from our very beginning and will continue to confront. But now is not the time to ponder on this. Even though what has happened had become inevitable over the last many days, I am too heartbroken to be able to do so.
Right now I can think only of Muzammil Shah (photo, from Associated Press, above). This photo was taken as he waited for his son who was inside the Lal Masjid. I do not know whether his son was there voluntarily, or as hostage. But I do know what the look of Muzammil Shah’s face means. The more important question is whether his son came out alive or not. I pray that he did.
Analysts – me included – will discuss what happened at length. They will try to understand the meaning of all this. What does this mean for Pakistan politics? What does this mean for Gen. Musharraf’s future? What does this mean for Islam? For Democracy? Does the fault lie with Abdul Rashid Ghazi and his militant supporters for creating a situation that could only end this way? Why did he not surrender? Is the blood of everyone who died not on his head for his stubboness and arrogance? Or, maybe, it is the government that is to blame because it did not act earlier? Act differently? Waited just a few days more for a negotiated solution?
Right now all these questions seem really petty and small. This is not the time for scoring cheap political points. This is not the time for spin.
Moreover, there are too many questions to ask. To answer. The head hurts as you think of them. But the heart hurts even more as you look at the face of Muzammil Shah.
Maybe the only really important question is the one that you can read between his wrinkles: “Why? Oh God, why? Why must things happen this way?”
Adnan Edhi words are more credible because he is the most sincere person in Pakistan. Why he will lie? What he will gain. Do he want position in government?
He is sheltring ten of thousand and helping millions of ppl in Pakistan. Once he put coffin on 10 days old body of a boy which was so rotten that his own father dont want to put coffin on it.
Some ppl dont like him because of his stand against “Mullaism”. I hate to say it but there are so many thankless ppl in Pakistan who event don’t respect Edhi.
Words to be noted..
Maulana Abdul Sattar Edhi told Dawn….
“I knew from the first day that ‘Maulvi’ does not listen,
Edhi comments in todays Dawn. Every politicail are hungry for powers. Edhi is the only one who can give a honest opinion on this crisis. It is time for our politicail to show statemanship. It is not time for dirty political gain.
“I knew from the first day that ‘Maulvi’ does not listen,
I would like to make some comments regarding Lal “so called Masjid ”
1. This is the best that Pak government has done in several years in destroying a terrorist den where sacred place of a mosque was used as a cover for millitant activities of Evil Mullahs who have been storing & using sophisticated automatic weapons there & providing refuge to criminal terrorists.
2. Some Mullah loving people like in comments above suggested “safe passage ” for these murderous Mullah Ghazi & others. Way to go ! Instead of eradicating this cancer , allow it to spread somewhere else so that they can cause havoc somewhere else ! These evil Mullahs need to be given exemplary punishments for their devious role in tarnishing our beautiful religion of Islam & for further tarnishing our great country’s already tarnished image
3. While it is sad to see people like Muzzamil Shah now shedding tears , Where were they and parents like him when they sent their loved ones to be brainwashed with hate-filled version of political Islam. Lal “so called masjid” brigade antics were going on for several months , Why these parents did,not come to get their kids early ? It is better to remain uneducated than be educated by evil Mullahs for their nefarious designs.
4.Now Mullahs all over Pakistan will make hue & cry saying that Islam is under attack , It’s a jewish conspiracy, It was done at the behest of America , etc. etc. But the fact of matter is that Islam is under attack from Mullahs & extremists muslims themselves who have distorted Islam & has caused immense damage to it. All seminaries similar to Lal so called Masjid be eradicated . period.
Long live a tolerant & progressive Pakistan !
This whole episode has shown that the chickens are coming home to roost. What is the legal and moral authority of the present regime? Musharraf is in power for one simple reason, he has the backing of the strongest armed group in the country, the army.
This ‘might is right’ atmosphere gives everyone the incentive to acquire arms and try to bully others. I, for one, cannot fault this logic. If one person can rule by the barrel of the gun, you cannot stop others from trying to to do likewise.