Solution to Lal Masjid crisis in sight
July 10, 2007
ISLAMABAD: The government and the beleaguered Lal Masjid cleric, Maulana Abdul Rashid Ghazi, agreed that Maulana Fazlur Rehman Khalil would visit Lal Masjid to find a solution to the standoff that entered the seventh day on Monday.
This decision was announced at about 1:30 am on Tuesday after both President Musharraf and the Lal Masjid administration gave assent to the mediation efforts by Maulana Khalil.
Sources said Maulana Khalil along with Ch Shujaat Hussain and other government officials met President Musharraf shortly after midnight. Maulana Khalil said that he was ready to visit Lal Masjid immediately if the government restored power supply there. Otherwise, he would visit the mosque in the day.
The sources said Maulana Ghazi might be offered the option of house arrest along with his mother in his village in Rajanpur. The other inmates of the Lal Masjid would also be freed after checking.
Earlier in the day a government-Ulema team tried, but failed, to hold face-to-face talks with Maulana Abdur Rashid Ghazi, as guns fell silent late on Monday. A 12-member delegation, including PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Ministers Ejaz-ul-Haq and Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani, Maulana Abdus Sattar Edhi, Bilqees Edhi and religious leaders Mufti Rafi Usmani and Dr Abdur Razzaq reached the “Red Zone” at 6:30 pm and conveyed to Maulana Ghazi an invitation for talks through a megaphone.
The delegation was told from inside that their voice could not be heard properly. The delegation then sent a mobile phone to Ghazi for contact. A young man came out of the Lal Masjid complex and collected the phone.
Ghazi was asked by the delegation to come out for talks. The Lal Masjid cleric, however, refused to come out citing security reasons. He instead invited the delegation to come inside the Lal Masjid premises. The government members were not ready to go inside Lal Masjid, saying the delegation might be taken hostage by the militants.
Taking benefit of the mobile phone provided by the delegation, Ghazi contacted a private TV channel and told it that he offered to guarantee the security of the delegation. He also said that the Ulema in the delegation wanted to come inside the mosque but they were prevented by the authorities.
Earlier, when Rafi Usmani asked Ghazi to come out for talks, Ghazi said that he would be arrested or killed by security forces. He asked Usmani to bring the delegation inside Lal Masjid. When Usmani told Ghazi to come to the nearby government school for talks, Ghazi said the Rangers and personnel of other agencies were present in the school.
Security agencies opposed the Ulema’s initiative to go inside the Lal Masjid, fearing they might be held hostage. They alleged Ghazi himself was hostage to militants.
According to a private TV channel, the Ulema were even ready to put down their willingness to go inside the Lal Masjid in writing. They were, however, not allowed to go inside by the government. Sattar Edhi also offered to go inside the Lal Masjid. Security agencies did not allow him either.
Later, Shujaat told reporters that the government wanted to resolve the problem through talks and did not want any bloodshed. He said the Lal Masjid administration should show flexibility.
The government members of the delegation returned to brief the president about the situation after five-hour attempts that failed to remove the lack of trust equally shown by the government and the Lal Masjid administration. Shujaat and his colleagues were reported to be summoned by the president. About 15 minutes after the departure of the government members, the Ulema also went back.
Meanwhile, Sessions Judge Islamabad Rafi-uz-Zaman reached there on the order of the Supreme Court to supervise the process of surrender by the Lal Masjid inmates. The administration announced on a megaphone in the presence of the sessions judge, asking the Lal Masjid inmates to surrender and offering guarantees for their lives.
Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani, in a press conference in the press centre, categorically said that the delegation would not enter the premises of the Lal Masjid-Jamia Hafsa complex.
He said eight parents, who went to take their children from the complex, were taken hostage and many people including children and women were shot wounded while trying to rush out of the complex.
Edhi told media men that Ghazi should release the hostages. He said the critically injured people trapped in the complex should be sent out. “Ghazi is defeated and he should surrender with his aides”, Edhi said.
Agencies add: Earlier, security forces fired tear gas and traded gunfire with militants in the Lal Masjid compound on Monday. Holes have been blown in outer walls of the compound.
As the stand-off entered its seventh day, the clerics asked the government to hold off, while they tried to find a way to avoid a bloodbath in the heart of the capital.
A woman who feared her daughter had been killed and buried inside the compound waited with around a dozen other anxious parents behind barbed wire barriers. “I request the law-enforcement agencies to let me go inside. I can go alone, and I know nobody will fire from inside. I know these people very well,” Asia Bibi said, adding she wanted to discover her daughter’s fate for herself.
There are concerns some children have been either coerced or persuaded to stay behind to act as human shields.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad police in a crackdown against elements having connections with Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa administration have arrested 60 persons and shifted them to unknown place.
the law-enforcement agencies have given reports that despite the operation and strict curfew several people still have contacts with the Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa administration. In view of this report, capital police have arrested and shifted some 60 people to an undisclosed location on charges of contacts with the Lal Masjid administration.
Asim Yasin adds: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Monday directed the security forces to ensure safety of innocent people and children, held hostage inside Lal Masjid.
Chairing a high-level meeting here at his Camp Office with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Vice Chief of Army Staff General Ahsan Saleem Hayat, Minister of State for Information Tariq Azeem, Minister of State for Interior Zafar Iqbal Warriach in attendance, he appreciated the restraint shown by the security personnel in the ongoing operation.
The meeting reviewed in detail the situation with particular reference to the ongoing operation in Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa. The president said that a delegation of Ulema should hold talks to settle the issue and the people entrenched in the mosque should be convinced to lay down the arms.
He said the matter should be settled through dialogue and directed the government officials to consider the proposals presented by the Ulema.
Musharraf also appreciated the cooperation of the Sector G-6 residents with the administration and the law-enforcement personnel. He directed the administration that all possible steps for the security of people residing in the areas under curfew be taken.
He also directed the authorities for taking swift measures to ease residents’ hardships, including immediate restoration of electricity and gas supply. He directed the local administration to facilitate the staffers of banks located in the area, and provision of necessary household supplies to the affected people.
The prime minister and PML president took the president into confidence about their meetings with the Ulema and administration of Wafaq-ul-Madaris, saying they too wanted the standoff was resolved early as the threat to the lives was growing due to delay in the settlement of issue.
Musharraf appreciated the talks process, saying that the government wanted that the besieged persons come out from Lal Masjid.
The meeting offered Fateha for all those innocent who had lost their lives. They paid tributes to Lt-Col Haroon Islam and other personnel for bravery and courage.
Minister for Interior Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and the other participants of the meeting gave briefing on the strength of extremists present inside Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa, details about the arms held by them, presence of some foreigners and other matters.
The participants appreciated the prudent strategy adopted by the administration and law-enforcement personnel during the operation, which led to safe evacuation of over 1,250 Madrassa students and others residing in the seminary.
This decision was announced at about 1:30 am on Tuesday after both President Musharraf and the Lal Masjid administration gave assent to the mediation efforts by Maulana Khalil.
Sources said Maulana Khalil along with Ch Shujaat Hussain and other government officials met President Musharraf shortly after midnight. Maulana Khalil said that he was ready to visit Lal Masjid immediately if the government restored power supply there. Otherwise, he would visit the mosque in the day.
The sources said Maulana Ghazi might be offered the option of house arrest along with his mother in his village in Rajanpur. The other inmates of the Lal Masjid would also be freed after checking.
Earlier in the day a government-Ulema team tried, but failed, to hold face-to-face talks with Maulana Abdur Rashid Ghazi, as guns fell silent late on Monday. A 12-member delegation, including PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Ministers Ejaz-ul-Haq and Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani, Maulana Abdus Sattar Edhi, Bilqees Edhi and religious leaders Mufti Rafi Usmani and Dr Abdur Razzaq reached the “Red Zone” at 6:30 pm and conveyed to Maulana Ghazi an invitation for talks through a megaphone.
The delegation was told from inside that their voice could not be heard properly. The delegation then sent a mobile phone to Ghazi for contact. A young man came out of the Lal Masjid complex and collected the phone.
Ghazi was asked by the delegation to come out for talks. The Lal Masjid cleric, however, refused to come out citing security reasons. He instead invited the delegation to come inside the Lal Masjid premises. The government members were not ready to go inside Lal Masjid, saying the delegation might be taken hostage by the militants.
Taking benefit of the mobile phone provided by the delegation, Ghazi contacted a private TV channel and told it that he offered to guarantee the security of the delegation. He also said that the Ulema in the delegation wanted to come inside the mosque but they were prevented by the authorities.
Earlier, when Rafi Usmani asked Ghazi to come out for talks, Ghazi said that he would be arrested or killed by security forces. He asked Usmani to bring the delegation inside Lal Masjid. When Usmani told Ghazi to come to the nearby government school for talks, Ghazi said the Rangers and personnel of other agencies were present in the school.
Security agencies opposed the Ulema’s initiative to go inside the Lal Masjid, fearing they might be held hostage. They alleged Ghazi himself was hostage to militants.
According to a private TV channel, the Ulema were even ready to put down their willingness to go inside the Lal Masjid in writing. They were, however, not allowed to go inside by the government. Sattar Edhi also offered to go inside the Lal Masjid. Security agencies did not allow him either.
Later, Shujaat told reporters that the government wanted to resolve the problem through talks and did not want any bloodshed. He said the Lal Masjid administration should show flexibility.
The government members of the delegation returned to brief the president about the situation after five-hour attempts that failed to remove the lack of trust equally shown by the government and the Lal Masjid administration. Shujaat and his colleagues were reported to be summoned by the president. About 15 minutes after the departure of the government members, the Ulema also went back.
Meanwhile, Sessions Judge Islamabad Rafi-uz-Zaman reached there on the order of the Supreme Court to supervise the process of surrender by the Lal Masjid inmates. The administration announced on a megaphone in the presence of the sessions judge, asking the Lal Masjid inmates to surrender and offering guarantees for their lives.
Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani, in a press conference in the press centre, categorically said that the delegation would not enter the premises of the Lal Masjid-Jamia Hafsa complex.
He said eight parents, who went to take their children from the complex, were taken hostage and many people including children and women were shot wounded while trying to rush out of the complex.
Edhi told media men that Ghazi should release the hostages. He said the critically injured people trapped in the complex should be sent out. “Ghazi is defeated and he should surrender with his aides”, Edhi said.
Agencies add: Earlier, security forces fired tear gas and traded gunfire with militants in the Lal Masjid compound on Monday. Holes have been blown in outer walls of the compound.
As the stand-off entered its seventh day, the clerics asked the government to hold off, while they tried to find a way to avoid a bloodbath in the heart of the capital.
A woman who feared her daughter had been killed and buried inside the compound waited with around a dozen other anxious parents behind barbed wire barriers. “I request the law-enforcement agencies to let me go inside. I can go alone, and I know nobody will fire from inside. I know these people very well,” Asia Bibi said, adding she wanted to discover her daughter’s fate for herself.
There are concerns some children have been either coerced or persuaded to stay behind to act as human shields.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad police in a crackdown against elements having connections with Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa administration have arrested 60 persons and shifted them to unknown place.
the law-enforcement agencies have given reports that despite the operation and strict curfew several people still have contacts with the Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa administration. In view of this report, capital police have arrested and shifted some 60 people to an undisclosed location on charges of contacts with the Lal Masjid administration.
Asim Yasin adds: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Monday directed the security forces to ensure safety of innocent people and children, held hostage inside Lal Masjid.
Chairing a high-level meeting here at his Camp Office with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Vice Chief of Army Staff General Ahsan Saleem Hayat, Minister of State for Information Tariq Azeem, Minister of State for Interior Zafar Iqbal Warriach in attendance, he appreciated the restraint shown by the security personnel in the ongoing operation.
The meeting reviewed in detail the situation with particular reference to the ongoing operation in Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa. The president said that a delegation of Ulema should hold talks to settle the issue and the people entrenched in the mosque should be convinced to lay down the arms.
He said the matter should be settled through dialogue and directed the government officials to consider the proposals presented by the Ulema.
Musharraf also appreciated the cooperation of the Sector G-6 residents with the administration and the law-enforcement personnel. He directed the administration that all possible steps for the security of people residing in the areas under curfew be taken.
He also directed the authorities for taking swift measures to ease residents’ hardships, including immediate restoration of electricity and gas supply. He directed the local administration to facilitate the staffers of banks located in the area, and provision of necessary household supplies to the affected people.
The prime minister and PML president took the president into confidence about their meetings with the Ulema and administration of Wafaq-ul-Madaris, saying they too wanted the standoff was resolved early as the threat to the lives was growing due to delay in the settlement of issue.
Musharraf appreciated the talks process, saying that the government wanted that the besieged persons come out from Lal Masjid.
The meeting offered Fateha for all those innocent who had lost their lives. They paid tributes to Lt-Col Haroon Islam and other personnel for bravery and courage.
Minister for Interior Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and the other participants of the meeting gave briefing on the strength of extremists present inside Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa, details about the arms held by them, presence of some foreigners and other matters.
The participants appreciated the prudent strategy adopted by the administration and law-enforcement personnel during the operation, which led to safe evacuation of over 1,250 Madrassa students and others residing in the seminary.
