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?”
I meant “ottoman documents” (typo) in my above post. Our mullah influence our thinking by putting pressure on our education system.
Let me give you concrete example. I once read 9th grade biology book of my eleder sister. There was full chapter on “Evolution”. In my book there was just small para on Evolution and our teacher told us not to read that para. I later found out that Zia has changed biology sylabus as per mullahs instructions. This is kind of biased minds these mullahs want to create.
We have so many educated ppl who looks moderate but from inside their minds are not open and they are deeply bigoted.
Adnan. There is a reason I am against mullah class. Without prejuducie read the book “What went wrong” by Bernard Lewis. In that book he has given concrete reference to “autumn documents” and has made his case how mullah version of Islam is responsible for downfall of muslim civilization.
He has given specific examples about these mullah opposes “watch”, “astronomy”, “living abroad for higher education” etc. Except getting modern weapons for army these mullah opposed all aspects of enlightment. Our mullah have same mentality. For them science and technolgy is nothing but getting advance weapons. Science is name of curiosity and opening your mind to brave new world of nature.
Did anyone notice the need for [media] attention by the deceased maulana. It is a subject in itself and is studied in detail about high profile serial criminals in the west. In the end it seemed the best reporter for GEO was Maulana himself giving them minute by minute updates. He lived up to that role till his last as he sent the last text to Hamid Mir of GEO minutes before he was shot. What was the point of those calls and messages when he himself was affirming that it was all over?
I told every body before this is all topi drama… read the news, express…etc..
you will find how hype is generated on propaganda of hostages, foriegners, mines….
mass graves being prepared…
Every paper is saying….
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
http://www.express.com.pk/epaper/?Issue=NP_LHE&Pag e=FRONT_PAGE&Date=20070712&Pageno=1&View=1#
Ansar Abbasi’s report on The news:
Government claims deceptive
By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: The government’s repeated claims that late Maulana Abdul Rashid Ghazi had laid mines and held women and children hostage to use them as a “human shield
Indeed, that is correct just one other thing you mention Islamic Clergy? there is suppose to be NO CLERGY IN ISLAM, the mullah today is simply implanting himself between the Muslim and Allah SWT. This I agree is the political mullah which needs to be taken out of the equation in the development of Pakistan and a modern just nation – something that the QuaidEAzam wanted and the silent majority of Pakistanis wish for.
Now that the government has shown the way we as Pakistanis should not rest until the MADrassas are split from the madrassas and the vilonence and hatred that some of these teach is nipped in the bud.
The mullahs who teach violence and hatred should be dealt under the same sharia law they wish to impose on others publically – on tv and radio – so the people of Pakistan know what ‘islamic’ methods they use to pervert the faith and energy of Islam for their own ends.
And should they be dealt with under true sharia laws – then we will probably cut the mullahclergy population down by 90-95%.