Musharraf on Mosque Episode: No Seminary be Allowed to Follow Suit
By Aziz Malik ‘Pakistan Times’ Federal Bureau Chief

ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf Thursday expressed the government’s firm resolve to fight extremism and terrorism and warned that no other mosque or madrassah would be allowed to be misused like Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa.

“The extremism and terrorism would be defeated in every corner of the country,” said the President while addressing the nation on radio and television.

The President said the Lal Masjid administration was using minor children as shield and was deceiving them in the face of teaching Islamic education.

“In Islam, the killing of one human being is equivalent to the massacre of entire humanity, so what kind of Islam Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa were propagating?”

Referring to the successful completion of the operation against Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa, the President sought support of the nation in changing the mindset of the misguided elements.

The President said the action against Lal Masjid would not eliminate extremism and terrorism from the society but the government’s resolve is unwavering in defeating the menace in every province and corner of the country.

Militants of Lal Masjid

President Musharraf said the militants of Lal Masjid took the law in their hands and challenged the writ of the government.

The President said such events forced the government to take action against the militants of Lal Masjid. He said the government was blamed of deceiving the public and making it a political issue.

He said the government could take action just in one day if it wants to kill the people but it showed restraint and patience only to save the lives of innocent people particularly the women and children who were made hostage in the mosque.

The President said government tried its best to resolve the issue through dialogue and shown maximum restrain despite instigation and provocation by the militants.

He said more than 2000 people including children, women and men fled from the complex before the start of the operation and added that government was able to save more than 1300 people from July 3 to final day of operation which means that over 3300 people including women, children and men with showing wisdom and acumen.

Lauds Shujaat, Edhi Efforts

Appreciating the efforts of President Pakistan Muslim League Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, other federal ministers, including renowned social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi for their efforts to resolve the issue through negotiations.

He said Council of Islamic Ideology was involved in talks and even Imam-e-Kaabah was invited to help resolve the issue.

The President said these leaders remained busy for negotiations for ten hours continuous on the last day before the final operation against Lal Masjid.

President Musharraf said military operation had to be delayed due to the negotiations and the army had to face loss of lives due to launching of the operation in the day light because such operations are undertaken in darkness to minimise the loss of lives.

Giving details of the reasons leading to the standoff at Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa the President Musharraf said terrorists were provided shelter inside the mosque and the students were fully armed and a danda-bardar brigade of female students was prepared.

He mentioned Lal Masjid’s baton-wielding women brigade and also men who forcefully occupied Children Library, held policemen hostage and damaged official buildings and even Chinese nationals were kidnapped.

President Musharraf said it was a embarrassing situation for him when seven Chinese were kidnapped by the militants of Lal Masjid. He said China is most trustworthy friend of Pakistan and kidnapping of Chinese citizens by Lal Masjid militants was one of the shameful act.

He said it was embarrassing for him when the President of China contacted him on telephone to provide security to the Chinese citizens living in Pakistan.

The President said the adjoining buildings were damaged and set on fire and even the fire brigade was not allowed to extinguish it. He said even the National flag was seen burning.

President Musharraf said a vast majority of the people of Pakistan are moderate and they have been expressing their concern and anxiety over the on-going Lal Masjid crisis.

Objective of Operation

The President categorically stated that the objective of the operation was to save lives as utmost care was taken by the forces which resulted in the martyrdom of ten members of the Special Services Group and injuries to 33 soldiers.

He said seventy-five militants were killed in the action which is not a matter of rejoicing and termed the loss of lives as regrettable. He said, “we did not defeat and overcome the enemy but these were our own people who were misguided.”

The President said that no body has a right to take away the right of other human beings as life is a gift of God and saving one human being tantamount to saving the whole humanity.

He said that negotiations failed because Abdul Rashid Ghazi wanted amnesty and safe passage for himself and his companions including foreigners. They wanted amnesty for their acts right from the occupation of Children Library.

The President said the actions of the Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa were not acceptable to any government. He said the militants inside Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa had their linkages with extremists in FATA and some parts of NWFP.

He said the federal government would extend full support and cooperation to the provincial governments in their efforts to counter extremism and combat terrorism.

He said Frontier Corps, Frontier Constabulary, Khasadar force and Levies would be equipped with modern weapons and trained in a better way to fight extremism and terrorism.

Even tanks and guns would be provided to them and this task would be completed within six months with the full backing and support of the army, he added.

President Musharraf said, “In my view Wafaqul Madaris has to play proactive role in coordination with the government to identify those madaris where students are being imparted militancy based education.”

Call to Ulema

The President urged the Ulema to prevent such trends in madaris that lead to militancy, adding “you should cooperate with the government in this respect.”

He said the youngsters should be taught the real essence and true values of Islam and underlined the need that ulema will have to play a proactive role in stopping militancy and extremism wherever it is being taught and preached.

President lamented that the week long operation at Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa and the subsequent capture of heavy weapons from the premises would hamper government’s efforts in seeking the support of the global community in modernizing and streamlining the religious seminaries.

He said some civilians also died and prayed that Allah may grant strength to the bereaved families to bear the loss.

President Musharraf said Lal Masjid, Jamia Hafsa and the Children Library have been freed from terrorists through a successful operation.

Appreciates Law Enforcement Agencies

He appreciated law enforcement agencies including police, Rangers and armed forces for proving their professional excellence during the operation, and paid glowing tribute in particular to the Special Services Group (SSG) and Anti-Terrorists Force.

“The nation and I feel proud of them who sacrificed their lives for the country, and [of them] 10 martyred and 33 others injured,” the President said.

President Musharraf acknowledged the services of those who tried their level best to convince terrorists for laying down weapons so as to resolve the matter peacefully.

He extended apology to the residents of Sector G-6 for facing hardships due to curfew, but said it was inevitable for security reasons.

President Musharraf said despite achieving success, it was a time to mourn and not to celebrate.

“The grief is because we did not conquer against any enemy; rather it was an action against our own people who had diverted from the righteous path and followed terrorism and extremism,” President Musharraf said.

The President said it was time to ponder over the situation and re-evaluate the deeds which led to such circumstances.

He said, “It is the time to think what we, as Pakistanis, want to do with ourselves, with our country and the religion.”

President Musharraf said Islamic beliefs and values preach to honour humanity. Life is a precious gift of Allah, and He is the only one who bestows and takes back life, he added.

He prayed that may Almighty Allah guide the country to the path of progress and bring prosperity to whole the nation.●