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?”
The religious parties are already planning protests. Nice to see that they never protested against the hostage taking of children and women over the last week. Now they will take advantage of peoples emotions. What a sick bunch of people are we?
Also for all those defenders of the pair responsible for this situation (i refuse to acknowledge the two brothers as “maulvis” or any sort of religious leaders). Please look at their statements and reality and think for yourself how many times will you believe their lies. (we have only 14 guns, both of us will stay and give our lives etc etc etc)
@ Adnan Siddiqui…..
fine…defend these animals…those who would not think twice or wince before blowing up you or your family while you are out for ice cream or shopping for the next days grocery…your ignorance of the hate these people keep within them will not save you….may Allah keep you and your family safe from the ‘Shurr’ of these Munafiqeen..
please defend them by all means…but then again..talk is cheap and facts hard to swallow..
what is the benifit of having these centres…these madrassas that produce mindless hate filled bigots who fell you in one siwft blow if you disagreed with the way you do you wudu…
what is the benifit of these madressas…excpet ram their version of Religion down the throat of all those who would disagree…
Im sure that you will not be able to come up with a semblence of an answer that even comes close to a positive contribution from these dirty Munafiqeen…
as a Practicing and abiding Muslim I can find no greater word for these people than Munafiqeen…Gumrah Munafiqeen…
for the wages as I had so labouriuosly explained to you earlier…
maybe it would help if you thought about the welfare of your fellow Muslim brothers and sisters..and maybe it would help further if you choose to dwell on a few good books on Islamic history..Politics and Jurisprudence and Islamic law..in case you are interested…do let me know I can recommend many books….
also…before you start your reply to try to debunk what I have said…just know that these Mullahs are the same people who held a ‘Fateha Dua’ for the Munafiq Al Zarqawi who was slaughtering fellow Muslims like it was the one sure path to winning Allahs approval (refer to Fateha for Zarqawi in NWFP assembly)…so sad …in fact downright negligent on your part that you choose to ignore facts…but then..as I said…talk is cheap..and maybe the truth is a currency you cannot afford..
and just so I am on the record…I am sad at what happened…truly sad as this was not in the best interest of Pakistan of Musalmaanan e Pakistan ….
May Allah have mercy on Pakistan…
Pakistan Zindabad……
Lt. Col Haroon Islam Paindabad…(aap ka bohot shukriya..we are in your debt. May you fly to Paradise on the wings of Allahs Angels)
oh and by the way Adnan…it is apparent…his mothers blood is on his own hands…even if she wanted to stay..he should have forced her out so that she could get medical aid and instead of being used as a sympathy tool…
but i guess its typical to expect this from cross dressing Mullahs who push others to fight to the death and then try to flee the scene with a Guccfi handbag and yes I mean Mullah..er..aunty aziz..!
GHAZI ABDUL RASHEED KILLED – INTERIOR MINISTRY
18:50 pm UPDATE
THE BULLET HIT HIS LEG FIRST, HE WAS GIVEN CHANCE TO SURRENDER BUT COMMANDOS ACCOMPANYING HIM REFUSED, AND THEN IN A CROSS-FIRE HE EVENTUALLY GOT KILLED. EVEN THOUGH HE WAS HALF-WILLING to surrender. WAS HIDING IN A BASEMENT, 7 COMMANDOS WERE WITH HIM.
For details Click Here
This drama is about to end… Let see when real story will come out. I was expecting that Ghazi would be killed due obvious deviation and angerness with writer over last time changing…
President Musharaf came on TV saying either surrender or die in a typical style as value of life do not matter.
I have seen western culture…. I know how much citizen rights and life matters in their society.
Death is inevitable and we must not forget our time.
Lates: Ghazi Abdul Rashid killed in action.
Alhamdolillah.