July 11, 2007	Wednesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 25, 1428

ISLAMABAD, July 10: Meetings of federal cabinet and the ruling PML policy planning council held here on Tuesday endorsed the swift military operation against the militants holed up in the Lal Masjid-Jamia Hafsa complex and regretted the heavy death toll due to what was termed the unyielding attitude of the administration of the two institutions.

Chairing both the meetings held separately at the PM House, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the government showed utmost patience and restraint on the Jamia Hafsa issue and made every effort to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiations.

Nevertheless, he added, the intransigence of a few extremists hampered every attempt for a peaceful solution of the issue and the government was compelled to launch the operation.

According to a brief official handout, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao briefed the cabinet about the operation conducted so far.

Inter-Service Public Relations Director General Maj. Gen. Wahid Arshad also gave a detailed account of the weeklong operations and especially of the events since Tuesday morning.

The government is deeply grieved over the loss of lives in Jamia Hafsa operation, which was caused by the unyielding attitude of the Jamia Hafsa administration, said the Prime Minister adding, extremists in Jamia Hafsa damaged the country and brought a bad name to Islam.

Taking women and children hostages was a heinous attempt to hurt people and it is a deplorable act, which cannot be justified on any ground, Shaukat added.

The Prime Minister said the government’s strategy was to avoid the loss of life as much as possible and we were able to save the lives of about 1,300 people.

Shaukat appreciated the commitment shown by security agencies. He said they showed a rare sense of dedication and exercised utmost restraint to establish peace with minimum loss of life.

He said the government was aware of the sufferings of parents of students at Jamia Hafsa and every possible step had been taken to facilitate them.

The Prime Minister said the Madressahs working within the parameters of law were providing valuable services. The government supports such initiatives. However, any attempts to use them to promote militancy and extremism will not be tolerated.

The participants of the meeting supported the operation launched by the government and said no attempts to challenge the writ of the government should be tolerated.

They expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and paid tribute to the officers and personnel of army, rangers and the police who sacrificed their lives for peace and stability in the country.

PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain attended both the meetings along with other members of the council and cabinet.