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| President resents airing of ‘shameful show’ |
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Friday, July 06, 2007
our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: The humiliating interview of Maulana Abdul Aziz by the state-run television has become a cause of embarrassment for the Presidency too, which decided not to let the PTV repeat the footage of that ‘really shameful show’.
This was decided in a meeting chaired by President Gen Pervez Musharraf and attended by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, Interior Secretary Kamal Shah, National Security Council Secretary Tariq Aziz and senior civil and Army authorities.
During the meeting, it was brought to the president’s notice that the Maulana was made to wear a Burqa before the interview. It was also observed that the interview had sent wrong signal across the country damaging the reputation the government had earned by showing extraordinary restraint in case of Lal Masjid especially in delaying the launch of the commando action for the sake of safety and security of innocent people still present in the mosque’s premises.
A source said that it was also pointed out that Maulana Abdul Aziz who was portrayed negatively before the general masses for his prolonged rigidity and also the way he attempted to escape from Lal Masjid, on Wednesday evening, won the sympathies of the people when he was made to appear in the PTV interview in a Burqa.
According to the source, the president also shared these views and regretted the fashion in which the interview was conducted. Musharraf said that though what was done could not be undone, he directed that the embarrassing interview should not be repeated. According to a source in Presidency, a large number of people conveyed their anger over the PTV interview of Maulana Abdul Aziz. Even many of those within the government did not like the way the Maulana was humiliated.
Agencies add: President Musharraf has directed the security agencies to be patient in carrying out the operation at Lal Masjid and allow maximum time for the parents to safely take out their daughters from the Jamia Hafsa.
Chairing a high-level meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the president gave the directive on humanitarian grounds. He also ordered a temporary delay in the operation allowing time for the parents to take out their daughters safely.
Meanwhile, parents of the girl students stranded in the Jamia Hafsa had requested President Musharraf for giving time to their daughters to come out of the Madrasa, as they had no link with the administration.
The president expressed satisfaction that so far 1,200 students had surrendered and lauded the strategy adopted by the security forces. He emphasised that time for talks has passed and now Abdul Rashid Ghazi would have to surrender, sources said.
The meeting was informed that Maulana Abdul Rashid Ghazi with some women and children had taken refuge in an underground cellar in the Jamia Hafsa and is using them as human shield. He has also reportedly offered to surrender on telephone calls to certain political leaders.
Musharraf directed that the loss of lives should be minimised and the operation should be short, quick and all targets should be achieved. He also directed that during the operation the mosque should be protected.
President Musharraf said that some students who are surrendering are widows or orphans and all their education expenses would be bear by the government.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
