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. I read that interview of Edhi. I am personally comfortable with his point of view.
I understand that “religion” is not Edhi speciality and his comments will be considered as “biddat” by many scholors.
Just one question. Let assume that his comments are “biddat”.
Does his personal religious belief makes him less respected?
So you respect ppl depending upon their personal religious beliefs.
we all know that you are an emotionally over wrought ,
Ayesha,better than being beyhis and ignorant. :-)
What I see that everyone is charged up against me just because I criticized _EDHI_. why can’t edhi be criticized? what’s all fuss about? where is all openness,enlightment and tolerance? Ain’t you guys proving my point that all tolerance and freedom of expression is relative
My statement is just not based on his recent statment about molvis but an interview which published in jang a month back in which he tried to twist Islamic rules so much that even some liberal writers couldn’t resist and made statements against him in same paper.
So When you are not aware about something then it would be better for you that you read concerned resources than make your point. Visiting some site like ATP ,reading comments which “match” your mindset and just throw a statement is not sane either. So read again what I responded earlier to Adil. If you are not being able to do doodh ka doodh pani ka pani then I shouldn’t be cursed for that.
Really, It is so unbecoming of a person of your calibre !
When the US government conducted a similar operation in Waco, Texas against a compound full of christian fanatics, there was tremendous hue and cry in USA due to the significant loss of life. So a similar reaction to lal masjid carnage is completely understandable.
Of course the big difference was that the Waco operation was ordered by a legally elected government while the lal masjid operation was undertaken by a gang of thugs which has imposed itself on Pakistan and insists on calling itself a government.
Adnan sahab , we all know that you are an emotionally over wrought , highly charged person but I tend to agree with Bhindigosht, lets try and keep Edhi sahab out of this debate.
His only concern in this entire situation was the welfare of helpless women and children and any man who needed his care which he is very adept at giving.
The word BABBLED is not very polite to use for any one , least of all for a man who has given so selflessly to this nation with no want of a return.
The tendency to get carried away in an argument is inherent in our society so one cant really blame you but try using logical and valid points instead of chest beating tactics.
It is so unbecoming of a person of your calibre !
Pakistan’s post-mortem (Lal Masjid)
“Musharraf ….. I like him and I appreciate him,” Bush said….
Within the country not everyone is convinced the government did the right thing….
accusing Musharraf of secretly encouraging Islamist radicalism to counter to growing demands by secular political groups for restoration of the democratic process and the calling of elections.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IG12Df02.h tml