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?”
Here is a clip of Abdul Rasheed’s last discussion on GEO TV:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlQaI-ivnsg
Happened to watch discussion between Mushtaq Minhas and Nusrat Javed on Aaj TV during the “boltA PAkistAn” show. Without any editorializing, following is the gist of what was said:
1) Nusrat was complaining that people are faulting journalists (like himself and Mushtaq) for not providing any useful information. In his words, they say “vaisay to baRay phannE KHan bante ho …” etc.
2) He was wondering about the whereabouts of hundreds of hostaged women and children. Where are they? Are they safe? Why were the media not allowed the opportunity to speak to 25 odd who did manage to come out and surrender during the operation?
3) Ditto for the foreigners and wanted militants from the banned outfits (e.g Abu Zar). Why have they, or their bodies, not been produced?
4) Nusrat further complained that people like him seemed to be getting it from both sides. Lal masjid sympathizers were dubbing him “government ka chamchA”, while those in favor of the operation were accusing him of being” maulvi ka chamchA”.
5) Mushtaq presented the summary of the information they (i.e. him and Nusrat) had from their own sources, since the govt. hadn’t been forthcoming. He stated that, according to their info, there were (at least) 285 killed during the operation, including 11 women. He did not cite his sources (possibly hospitals or morgues).
There were four callers, three of them women, during the show. Women were very emotional and blamed the govt. Two of them nearly broke down finishing their statements.
Nusrat menetioned that, opinion-wise, the calls before and after the operation are flipped 180 degrees. An overwhelming number wanted action before it happened. Post-action, most callers are blaming the govt.
Go figure.
Interesting to see the reaction of the rest of the Muslim world.
Why are we not seeing clerics and Muslims protesting around the world, voicing their opposition to the Red Mosque’s perverted version of Islam? Why does a single cartoon cause mass protests around the world, but taking hundreds of innocent women and children hostage and using them as human shields doesn’t garner a peep? Where are the normally outraged in Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and on and on? Who will stand up publicly and denounce extremism? Their silence speaks volumes.
AK, Riyadh
http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?sortBy =2&threadID=6813&edition=2&ttl=20070711225515&#pag inator
Just a side issue. I am surprised that when some people say ‘desis’, they are infact referring to indians and Pakistanis.
My understanding is that all participants on Pakistaniat.com are Pakistanis and for us, Des is only Pakistan. So indians are not Desis, they are in fact Pardesis…..
Adnan Bhai,
I agree we should not make GOD out of Edhi or even worship him has a hero. But credit must be given were its due. You have born right to disrespect anybody you want and no can stop you but don’t mind if we disrespect you unpar gawar mullahs. You seem to be angry just because Edhi gave a statement against your mullahs. Just like you were angry when Sohaib Mansoor gave a statement against mullah junaid jamashed.
You look like technology enthusiast tell me how many mufties/mullahs have a TV or Internet at their house. What about Taqi Usmani? check and let me know.
Problem is not religious people or religion itself, its the political mullahs. Because of whom innocent people are dying everywhere in the world from Indonesia to New york.
And you sound very confused about technology / progressiveness, you say Arabs building open source software. My friend have you ever been to miscrosft or cisco or say oracle there are thousands of desies (Indian and Pakistan) who have created software which is used everyday. Even with low literacy rate and limited resource we out number the crazy Arabs in any field you name it. This infrastructure you talk about in saudi was built by the British, Indians and Pakistanies not by the mullahs, Yes from Arab Oil money. The new generation of Arabs are too busy driving fast Cars and playing with ringtones on their cell phones.
The only Arabs who are really into technology are the egytians(I consider them African) and morrocans(French cause they speak it better then arabic) not the camel jockeys. FYI I teach technology.