Lal masjid affair

[seekers]

In his article of May 21 titled “Lal Masjid: rewarding insurrection”, renowned physicist and columnist Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy seemed upset over Pakistan’s Chief Justice’s instructions to the Islamabad administration to expedite work on the restoration of the Jamia Hafsa, a seminary attached with the notorious Lal masjid. The consternation was caused due to the memory of how the Lal Masjid leadership had held the peace and quiet of the capital and indeed the stability of the whole country hostage in 2007. The entire world watched the gun battle between the army and the Lal Masjid brigade, the casualties of which remain a secret. Hearing the interview of Umme Hassan, the wife of Maulana Abdul Aziz, it is clear that the masjid was being used for more than praying.
Some may even argue that jihadis were collected from all over the country in self-defence but then does any civil servant, which is legally the status of the khateeb of any government mosque, have the right to take up arms against the state and get away with murder? A friend’s father, a retired bureaucrat, recently asked me how come he was constantly under the threat of being reprimanded while Maulana Aziz, who was a government employee and who challenged the state violently, remains untouched.
But why blame the CJ when all he may be doing is following the law. How can he punish Maulana Abdul Aziz when no evidence was actually brought against him by the very government that launched the military operation to clear the mosque of violent miscreants? The fact of the matter is that while Umme Hassan and the entire Hafsa crew talk about hundreds of deaths of innocent young girls and boys, the army which launched the operation did not bring forward any case for the killing of its over a dozen innocent soldiers. Ultimately, it was the Chinese national, who was harassed by the Hafsa-Lal Masjid brigade, who registered the only police case. Perhaps, a suo-motu action may help probe why the then DG ISI chose not to pursue the case, or was it due to the friction between his agency and the MI, which was handling the operation? They say the law is blind so minus an FIR and supporting evidence from the Lal Masjid clerics would appear innocent to the Supreme Court. For those who argue that the judges must create an enabling environment for the presentation of evidence, this can only be done in cases where the sovereignty of the state is threatened such as in the memogate case.
Reminiscing about the military operation in 2007, perhaps, there was never any real friction between the Lal Masjid clerics and the state. Subsequently, Maulana Abdul Aziz was accommodated by the present government using the good offices of the real estate tycoon Malik Riaz, who not only helped rebuild the mosque with a donation of Rs15 million, but also provided shelter to the Madrassa Hafsa which was relocated to Bahria Town Rawalpindi. He has also assisted over 30 madrassas in and around Islamabad, many of which were linked with the Lal Masjid clerics. It is worth reminding that Abdul Aziz’s father followed by his brother Abdul Rasheed Ghazi (who died in the operation) and Aziz himself have worked as assets of the state.
There are so many questions that remain unanswered about the Lal Masjid and the 2007 operation. For instance, why didn’t anyone think of harnessing the maulanas before things had become out of hand? Surely, the armed escort from the Ministry of Interior, which is provided to Abdul Aziz today, could have also been provided then. Or why weren’t the brothers and their team relocated to Rawalpindi or even further? More important, if the Maulana is being rehabilitated in the same place, then was the blood of innocent soldiers and civilians spilled for nothing?
And until we get the answers one can only advise Professor Hoodbhoy to change his route — see no evil, hear no evil.

The Lal Masjid affair – The Express Tribune

 

[Zarvan]

In his article of May 21 titled “Lal Masjid: rewarding insurrection”, renowned physicist and columnist Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy seemed upset over Pakistan’s Chief Justice’s instructions to the Islamabad administration to expedite work on the restoration of the Jamia Hafsa, a seminary attached with the notorious Lal masjid. The consternation was caused due to the memory of how the Lal Masjid leadership had held the peace and quiet of the capital and indeed the stability of the whole country hostage in 2007. The entire world watched the gun battle between the army and the Lal Masjid brigade, the casualties of which remain a secret. Hearing the interview of Umme Hassan, the wife of Maulana Abdul Aziz, it is clear that the masjid was being used for more than praying.
Some may even argue that jihadis were collected from all over the country in self-defence but then does any civil servant, which is legally the status of the khateeb of any government mosque, have the right to take up arms against the state and get away with murder? A friend’s father, a retired bureaucrat, recently asked me how come he was constantly under the threat of being reprimanded while Maulana Aziz, who was a government employee and who challenged the state violently, remains untouched.
But why blame the CJ when all he may be doing is following the law. How can he punish Maulana Abdul Aziz when no evidence was actually brought against him by the very government that launched the military operation to clear the mosque of violent miscreants? The fact of the matter is that while Umme Hassan and the entire Hafsa crew talk about hundreds of deaths of innocent young girls and boys, the army which launched the operation did not bring forward any case for the killing of its over a dozen innocent soldiers. Ultimately, it was the Chinese national, who was harassed by the Hafsa-Lal Masjid brigade, who registered the only police case. Perhaps, a suo-motu action may help probe why the then DG ISI chose not to pursue the case, or was it due to the friction between his agency and the MI, which was handling the operation? They say the law is blind so minus an FIR and supporting evidence from the Lal Masjid clerics would appear innocent to the Supreme Court. For those who argue that the judges must create an enabling environment for the presentation of evidence, this can only be done in cases where the sovereignty of the state is threatened such as in the memogate case.
Reminiscing about the military operation in 2007, perhaps, there was never any real friction between the Lal Masjid clerics and the state. Subsequently, Maulana Abdul Aziz was accommodated by the present government using the good offices of the real estate tycoon Malik Riaz, who not only helped rebuild the mosque with a donation of Rs15 million, but also provided shelter to the Madrassa Hafsa which was relocated to Bahria Town Rawalpindi. He has also assisted over 30 madrassas in and around Islamabad, many of which were linked with the Lal Masjid clerics. It is worth reminding that Abdul Aziz’s father followed by his brother Abdul Rasheed Ghazi (who died in the operation) and Aziz himself have worked as assets of the state.
There are so many questions that remain unanswered about the Lal Masjid and the 2007 operation. For instance, why didn’t anyone think of harnessing the maulanas before things had become out of hand? Surely, the armed escort from the Ministry of Interior, which is provided to Abdul Aziz today, could have also been provided then. Or why weren’t the brothers and their team relocated to Rawalpindi or even further? More important, if the Maulana is being rehabilitated in the same place, then was the blood of innocent soldiers and civilians spilled for nothing?
And until we get the answers one can only advise Professor Hoodbhoy to change his route — see no evil, hear no evil.

The Lal Masjid affair – The Express Tribune

Pervaiz Hoodbhoy problem is with Islam not with any other issue he is a famous CIA tout and as far as LAL MASJID is concerned their are many questions to be answered more than 100 people killed and many women were burned because of Musharraf's ego and arrogance other wise deal was almost done but because of this sick man we had a disaster which later resulted in thousands of Suicide Bombings and other killings and increase in hate red

 

[somebozo]

Pervaiz Hoodbhoy problem is with Islam not with any other issue he is a famous CIA tout and as far as LAL MASJID is concerned their are many questions to be answered more than 100 people killed and many women were burned because of Musharraf's ego and arrogance other wise deal was almost done but because of this sick man we had a disaster which later resulted in thousands of Suicide Bombings and other killings and increase in hate red

No deal with the terrorist..

 

[seekers]

yes! Dr. Hoodbhai has problem with taliban and lal masjid islam

 

[pak-marine]

Pervaiz Hoodbhoy problem is with Islam not with any other issue he is a famous CIA tout and as far as LAL MASJID is concerned their are many questions to be answered more than 100 people killed and many women were burned because of Musharraf's ego and arrogance other wise deal was almost done but because of this sick man we had a disaster which later resulted in thousands of Suicide Bombings and other killings and increase in hate red

This article is written by Ayesha Siddiqua ... how about her is she on KFC parole ? why not read the article instead of coming up with conspiracy theories about the authors who are well qualified than many of great defence annaylsts on national television and forums these days

 

[Saleem]

ayesha saddiqa is an anti pakistan writer -has been for years ----

 

[Irfan Baloch]

The whole Lal masjid story is an embarrassment for Pakistan.
Lousy intelligence, criminal negligence and continued inaction led to the events that saw a house of God and a house of prayers and submission turning into a house of terror and harassment.

The culprits became heroes and came out victors in the end. Musharraf is gone, the SSG Colonel is dead and his colleges killed in the later attack on SSG mess. The terrorists freed by the courts to form Ghazi force that has joined the TTP and the firebrand cleric who failed in his attempt to escape in a Burka went back with full honour and praise and has resumed his venom against the state, the army and the other sects that are deemed heretics by him and Taliban.

So today, if the world criticises our efforts and doubts our resolve regarding the war on terror then Lal masjid affair gives ample proof why such point of view has valid reasons.

The story has not ended yet. In due course it will be revealed that this place still acts as a meeting place and a sanctuary for the terrorists who are planning future vicious attacks on the state of Pakistan.

 

[VCheng]

..........
So today, if the world criticises our efforts and doubts our resolve regarding the war on terror then Lal masjid affair gives ample proof why such point of view has valid reasons................

The Lal Masjid episode is only one of many such valid criticisms, Sir.

 

[pak-marine]

ayesha saddiqa is an anti pakistan writer -has been for years ----

Anti Pakistan NOT Anti Fundo & establishment YES BIG TIME ... ! btw what do you have to say about the article

ayesha saddiqa is an anti pakistan writer -has been for years ----

Anti Pakistan NOT Anti Fundo & establishment YES BIG TIME ... ! btw what do you have to say about the article

 

[Peregrine]

The Lal Masjid episode is only one of many such valid criticisms, Sir.

For instance?

 

[VCheng]

For instance?

Persistent failure to eradicate use of Pakistani territory as terrorism sanctuaries by creating false distinctions about "preferred" and "non-preferred" non-state actors is another large one, for example.

 

[Peregrine]

Persistent failure to eradicate use of Pakistani territory as terrorism sanctuaries by creating false distinctions about "preferred" and "non-preferred" non-state actors is another large one, for example.

That is more of a blatant lie than ''valid criticism''. Pakistan cannot charge people/organizations with terrorism, without any credible evidence like in case of Hafiz Saeed. The fact that the acts of terrorism have gone down in Pakistan, is a proof of Pakistani endeavors in rooting out terrorism from Pakistan. Pakistan army has strengthened sovereignty over areas, where Pakistani flag was never even hosted in entire history......... These may sound like little/no efforts to critics, but for Pakistan these are huge accomplishments and must be appreciated.