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 Siddiqui…
you are living proof that talk is really….really cheap..and that a Mullah will always…without exception set fire to his own house always…and that a Mullah is not the same burden as the rest of us to speak the truth…
Mullahs…this sickness…this plague upon us..must be eliminated…and with extreme prejudice…
can you please take the time to answer the following:
1. why would you defend the defender of Mullah Azam Tariq? the same Azam Tariq who had the blood of Muslims on his hands and who continuously called for the muder of Pakistan’s entire shia Population…?why?
2. Why would you defend Mullahs who..in the NWFP assembly say Fateha for Zarqawi…when he too had the blood of innumerable Muslims on his hands and who also called for the murder of Iraqs shias? why?
Do you subscribe to that type of thinking?
As I said…talk is cheap and I do believe that the truth is a currency that you just cannot afford!
Pakistan Zaindabad..
Brilliant point Lahori. I had also fallen for this and had begun saying it was for the west. But you are right, this propaganda is just like Bush linking Iraq to Al Qaeda. Thank you, I have truly learnt something today. You are right, I was wrong.
Anyone who has looked at US newspapers or media recently it is clear that the US did not like the operation or the way it was done. Most editorials here have been critical of it. We should stop trying to find demons for our own problems outside. There is MUCH that the US (specially US conservatives like Bush) have to answer for but some problems we created for ourselves. This operation was done not because US wanted it (if it was then it should have been done much earlier) but because the Lal MAsjid criminals and thugs had gotten out of hand. The molvis who had tried and failed to stop the creation of Pakistan were now destabilizing and eating it from the inside like termites. They were attacking and killing Pakistanis and attaching the soverignty of Pakistan. This was an ATTCK ON PAKISTAN and had to be dealt with. It shodul have been dealt with much much earlier and had we not had a military dictator and intyelligence agencies that had IN THE PAST worked with these dispicable enemies of Islam (Lal Masjid killers) then it might have been done earlier. But, I say, better late than never!
This childish propaganda that this whole operation was somehow done for Bush or the West has to be put to a lie. Just because we all dislike Bush the propagandists are trying to associate this with Bush so people oppose this operation too. What they are doing is EXACTLY what Bush did to sell the Iraq war… he lied to associate that was with Al Qaeda so that if people beleievd those two would were linked then they would support the Iraq War. Now the maulanas and extremist are doing their propaganda exactly the same way… convince people that this was done for Bush and his War on Terror and since people don’t like those things they will also not like this operation… same type fo propaganda and lies that Bush used to sell the Iraq War…. I guess there is even les difference between American conservatives and our conservatives than I thought… both like violent solutions and both deal in lies
I have read all the posts and it makes me so sad to see all this. I dont need to say anything about the reality of this operation to anyone. Anyone who still thnks that govt was right shd get more informed and shd know the views of Dr. Shahid Masood, Hamid Mir and Ansar Abbasi about it. I am not going to argue on that as anyone who has got a bit of common sense can see that it was all a cold blooded massacre. I m not going to argue on that.
What is bugging me is the thought and realization that at last WAR ON TERROR has entered our borders. I am horrified at this. I couldnt hav imagined this ever. We were the bloody ALLIES. I was thinking the third victim to be either IRAN or SYRIA until today when there is a strong indication of military operation in Swat. There are suicide bombings everywhere and ppl on both sides are shaheeds. I am weeping for those innocent soldiers who have to pay for the follies of their GENERAL. And then I wonder about that suicide bomber. His son, brother or loved one must have died in Wana, Waziristan or Bajaur. All in the name of WAR ON TERROR. We helped in this na! We are the ALLIES and suddenly we are turning into a victim. We forgot that the fire which we are starting in our neighbour can cross our border.
And here we are. One is a so-called moderate and yet he cant tolerate his fellow whose views are different from his. Isnt it also a form of extremism. Then there are those who were being praised, were da heroes just a decade back, the great mujahideens and all of a sudden they are being labelled TERRORISTS so we dnt wnt them here anymore. At no cost. Where should they go??? TELL ME??? We were the ones who made them. They are our brothers and if they have their views then it doesnt make them less Pakistanis. They have as much rights as us even if our views dnt match. We just cant go and ELIMINATE them ( a word being used by DG ISPR).
Now lets think whats happening to us. Who is wrong??? Think please. Agar Pakistan hoga tau hi hum secular hongay ya phir extremist……….jab Pakistan khud hi khatre mai par jai tau…………..???? I am seeing Pakistan and its no different than IRAQ. There is US supported govt. There is so-called WAR ON TERROR ( anyone who is on the wrong side of general is a terrorist and that includes our great CJ as well) , then there is insurgency in the tribal belt and Swat and there are suicide bombings on govt buildings and security personnel. Lal Masjid was the theatre that US needed and our general once again provided that. Military operation in Swat…….. Gorrilla war starting in the mountainous region with shaheeds on both sides……more suicide attacks……… more destruction ………. arent we headed towards a road to destruction???
Lal Masjid was peaceful till 6 months back. And our nice PM tells us that this operation was planned 6 months back. So what prompted these ppl who were right about their stand on the shahadat of MASJID E HAMZA to take law into their hands. Was he the same person being called Munnafik on CAPITAL TALK??? And was he the same person who provided them with those 14 weapons???
My dear friends!!! its not a clash between two idealogies if u think so. Dnt fall a prey to this. The first one was being propagated by a General to prolong his regime though in the end his friends discarded him when he was not wanted anymore. And the second one is the one being adopted by our current General all in the name of good of people of Pakistan. Dnt we have brains??? Cant we see??? Our society is a peaceful one be it Mullahs ( dnt argue everyone knws who is behind the establishment of Sipahe sahaba, lashkare jhangvi, taliban and alikes) or otherwise. But its those mighty generals who bring chaos. Look what Saddam did to his country and it makes me sad because we are heading the same way. Why do they forget the end of Saddam??? why dnt they learn a lesson once for all??? His era has ended but what it gave IRAQ??? and I am sad because my country is heading there all in the name of WAR ON TERROR. Once again we are fighting a PROXY WAR. But last time it was against one giant for another giant at another land. This time its for the same giant against us on OUR OWN LAND. Wake up u ppl before its too late. We have already thrown one of our own ppl’s home ( JAMIA HAFSA) into fire but who knws this fire may reach our doorsteps next time. I am a sad person today as I knw in Swat troops are on a high alert. Again they have gone for no operation but ONE UNKNOWN BULLET FROM AN UNKNOWN PLACE will be fired and then………….. just like in LAL MASJID. I am always scared by this one bullet.
One general has already used us IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, please dnt let this one destroy us all IN THE NAME OF WAR ON TERROR. They do it just to prolong their regimes but leaving their impact for generations to come. Lets not hate our own ppl. If someone is Maulvi or not Maulvi, he is a Pakistani. Being either doesnt lessen his rights. Lal Masjid operation was wrong, an attempt by our general to please his ALLIES. And it wont end up this thing but will ignite all such happenings. When Wana, Waziristan, Bajaur bombings happened; we kept silent. It was not happening to our loved ones. So what if there was someone killed. If they dnt follow enlightened moderation, should they deserve to be killed??? And then those helpless ppl thought of registering their anger and protest in a way…………… by blowing themselves up. Now we ask WHY??? Because we dnt feel safe in our markets our community any more, so we ask WHY??? Did anyone went on to listen to their version of the story. But why should we bother??? They are terrorists. Who tells us so??? US. Who are they to decide??? Like idiots we are again becoming pawns in da game. Previously they said DO JIHAD tau we said LABAIK and now they are dictating us WHO IS WHO and WHAT IS WHAT about our own brothers. Lets say they have done something wrong against US. Even if true, so why do we care??? If they can go on and honour our culprits with SIR titles, so why should we care. Just to prove that we are moderates. What good do we get out of it??? They will help us by supporting our dictators. By not helping democracy prevail. HOW COOL!!!
In LAL MASJID TRGEDY the same happenned. Ok! they took law in their hands but does that mean everyone needed to be wiped out the way it was done??? Where is our ‘Main bhi Pakistan hoon Tu bhi Pakistan hai’ spirit??? We shd tell the govt that to kill anyone extra judiciously, no matter how wrong they are; is wrong. Thats all. If we dnt help these ppl get justice, if we dnt ask the govt WHY, one day we might be blown up in some busy corner of a street by someone who dint even get the chance to bury his loved one. Then we wont be able to ask WHY???
Please dont cultivate extremism so that we dnt have to reap it. Coz today I am thinking of Saddam and look what he gave his country??? massacres and genocides, mass graves, suicide bombings, sectarian voilence, war against terror, friendly invaders, hostile insurgents……………..and I weep for Pakistan…………………………………………again one bullet……………………………one more operation……………………………….more sufferings………………….more suicide bombings……………………………more destruction……………………………They are right…………………………………..POWER CORRUPTS and ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY. One man desperately clinging to his crown has led us on this way…………………………………………..Lets stay UNITED cos maulvis or no maulvis; we are Pakistanis and we will not let them divide us so that they can rule forever. We dnt want to fight one more PROXY WAR just to help a general prolong his reign !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No more PAWNS IN THE GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!