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In the spring of 2007, as a 23-year-old afflicted with congenital cowardice, I took on a journalism job in Islamabad. I assumed it was going to be a cushy gig, involving little other than chatting up second-rate politicians and third-class bureaucrats. In the next few months, I was a hundred yards away from a suicide blast and witnessing (I don’t use the word reporting since I was rarely aware of what was happening) the cross-fire at the Lal Masjid became a daily routine. The day I left Islamabad, never to return, was, ironically, the day the Lal Masjid was re-opened – and suicide bombed.
Despite all my confusion and uncertainty about everything else, there was one point on which I never wavered: the Lal Masjid operation was justified and needed to be carried. Sure, I had minor quibbles even at the time. Like Macbeth, I believed, “If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly.” Despite Musharraf’s delay in ordering the operation, a period that was marked by fruitless negotiations, ultra-sensationalist media coverage and a phony war at the mosque itself, I stood firmly behind his decision to take military action – indeed, I saw no alternative to it.
Three years later, though, I’m not so sure. Sure, the operation was justified. There is no way a group of armed mullahs should be allowed to hold a city, a country and a government hostage to its demands. Just because something is justified, however, doesn’t make it the right course of action to pursue.
Consider this: Since the Lal Masjid operation, two new militant groups, the Junoodul Hafsa and the Ghazi Force have been created. Their sole aim is to avenge the Lal Masjid operation by carrying out attacks on military installations and personnel in Khyber-Pakthunkhwa and the Punjab. Most of those arrested from the Lal Masjid were freed by the courts and will have returned to militancy with greater fervour after their experience with the military. Those few who are still locked up – estimated to be no greater than 60 – will likely soon be released on the order of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, whose orders to free all clerics unjustly held by Musharraf is being interpreted by some as a statement of support for the Lal Masjd mullahs. Then, there has been a mushrooming of madrassas in Islamabad and fears that they may be a breeding ground for militants were proven true when an attack at Parade Lane in Rawalpindi was attributed to madrassa students in the capital. Musharraf might have been able to ‘cleanse’ one Lal Masjid but another 100 Mini-Me’s have sprouted in its place.
Here’s where I, and other supporters of the Lal Masjid operation, went wrong. We were so intoxicated on the righteousness of our belief, we dismissed the strong opposition of a majority of the political parties, and the country, as irrelevant. History is littered with examples of conflicts that went on for too long, and lost the public as a result. Had Musharraf taken quick, decisive action – cutting off power and water to the Lal Majid, followed by an assault would have taken no more than two or three days – it would have denied demagogues the oxygen to build up public opposition to the operation. As the situation dragged on, we should have realised that the divisions and negativity it would have caused in the country now far outweighed defeating the Lal Masjid clerics.
The Lal Masjid fiasco – I have changed my mind to such an extent that I think referring to it as a fiasco is appropriate – has become so pivotal to the fight against militancy that two WikiLeaks cables from November 2010, referring to the problem of terrorism in the region, saw fit to mention it. Whatever short-term benefit the country may have got from silencing the Lal Masjid clerics has now been obliterated by its lasting influence on a new generation of militants. And it has insured that I never live in Islamabad again.
Nadir Hassan is a journalist based in Karachi. He can be reached at nadir.hassan@gmail.com
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
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Comments (122) Closed
Dec 08, 2010 11:10am
I don't agree with the writer here. would the views would still be the same if his brother or sister would have been hurt during the operation, using force is not the answer for everything especially mosques.
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Dec 08, 2010 09:50am
Happenings like Lal Masjid should be nipped in the bud. The ex-President acted rightly. It is shameful to know of such people later getting released.
Please, for a change remember the Martyred Jawans and officers who gave their lives just to safeguard our lives. For surely they will be blessed by God.
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Dec 08, 2010 06:18pm
What did the pupil of lal masjid did to deserver death? I thought we have a judiciary in this country. The problem was accessive force by both parties. If I am not mistaken the issue lal masjid had was with police and the fact that police was not doing its job in controlling brothels etc. They did not approach the problem the right way and Mushraff did not approach it correctly either. And two wrongs never make a right.
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Dec 08, 2010 10:29am
No one was supporting the Mullahs of Lal Masjid, the way they were playing aournd but the question remains, was that the right way Musharraf dealt with. Were these Mullahs doing at their, what was the source behind this monarchy. It could have easily been handled without shedding blood but oh sorry we are enlightened moderates, how we could miss such a golden chance to prove ourselves. For God sake comeout of this martial mentality.
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Dec 08, 2010 10:28am
@Sahib Zafar: I totally agree with u , we need to take hard decision(like Indira Gandhi) , whether India or Pakistan, it is need of the hour. militancy is a cancer, if it is not stopped from spreading it will eat the whole body
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Dec 15, 2010 04:10pm
Lal Masjid operation saved Islamabad from suffering the same fate as Swat, Buner and FATA under the Taliban.
The Lal Masjid terrorists were given many many opportunities during the six month saga to give up their ways, they refused and paid the price. Please hold terrorists accountable instead of just blaming Government/Musharraf for everything.
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Dec 10, 2010 07:51am
What no one seems to mention is just one question that requires an answer. " Where were our Intelligence Services?" How could an arsenal be smuggled into the Lala Masjid?
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Dec 08, 2010 10:21am
The operation was needed and justified at that moment, I would still hold true to that. Infact, I believe, it should have been nipped in the bud even before it before hat much stronger. All such madrassas should be kept under strict scrutiny.
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Dec 08, 2010 10:12am
In my view, it is no more called or should be recognised as lal masjid or Red mosque if there are terrorists, ammuniation, guns grenades in the facility. The people who had occupied the campus(as I mentioned earlier, should not be called a mosque as it was harbouring terrorists) were harrassing citizens of Islamabad, forcing them to live their way which in no human way is correct. What musharraf did was the right thing, might be a little overdue but again he might be giving time to those judging terrorists who think they have got he VIP pass to heaven by beating women to cover their bodies and the list is long.
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Dec 08, 2010 10:09am
what i believe is that Musharraf could have overpowered lal masjid clerics by merely cutting their all sort of supply without a single bullet fired.
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Dec 08, 2010 10:06am
The army operation was the only solution to get rid of those fundamentalist terrorists who were using the name of religion to achieve their ulterior motives and i think the superior judiciary should not order for the release of those captured from there as they all were either terrorists or intended to involve in some sort of terrorists activities and we all are well aware of this fact that punjab government have soft corner for these intolerant mullahs.... but still there should be a comprehensive inquiry that how come that much weapons have end up in the mosque and who was responsible for that negligence ... someone should be held responsible
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Dec 08, 2010 10:04am
I completely agree with Naveed Haider's comments.
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Dec 10, 2010 05:09am
i completely agree with you. the so called liberal and elite of pak have destroyed pak since its inception in 1947. we've seen this and this will continue until the avg paki wakes up and fights for his right.
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Dec 08, 2010 05:53pm
Musharraf was right in what he did, where Pakistan has gone wrong is the subsequent govt and courts not following up his policies, releasing these fanatics will destroy Pakistan forgood. These mullahs only understand one language that is gun against gun, dialogue is wasted on them. Fighting against your own country and people does not open doors to heaven but hell both on earth and afterlife.
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Dec 08, 2010 09:57am
Even at that time, I kept on saying that the solution was so simple. Cut off water, power, gas....jam cellphone signals, and lay a siege outside.....while keep on continuing negotiations....sooner or later, they would have given up......why use all that force when it could have been solved without a single bullet being fired....not to mention, desecration of a mosque in a Muslim country named Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
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Dec 08, 2010 05:44pm
We saw the climax of an evil tide. Now lets build a better country.
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Dec 08, 2010 09:36am
@ shahzada.A.Ilahi: Please get your facts right. The court asked the then government to file charges against the arrested and the government declined. The court could not order anyone to be held in jail if the government was not pressing charges.
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Dec 08, 2010 09:37am
It is quite easy to blame the operation after years, the operation was a need at the ime since we can not allow any extremist group to take over the capital. Releasing the criminals is surely not a wise move, sharif brothers have always made such blunders / statements for the sake of opposing army.
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Dec 08, 2010 09:33am
Excellent article.
But you moved out of Islamabad because of its violence and moved into an even more hostile city? Odd choice.
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Dec 08, 2010 09:28am
@Nadir - Could you elaborate on what you now think would have been a better course of action for Musharraf to pursue?
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Dec 08, 2010 09:28am
Pakistani People's opinion and media projection was different before Lal masjid operation. Once Gen.Musharraf took the action then opportunist politicians and majority of masses have come up with a totally different view point. The general sympathy with Lal masjid's extremist/ terrorists, who showed themselves on meida and faught with the Pak army as well proves that as a nation we deserve to be in the bad law and order situation we are. By the time we get rid of all religious biases and have open mindedness in our society, we will be in the same state affairs.
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Dec 08, 2010 06:13pm
If force is not the answer, then why were the militants forcing people around and in possession of weapons? After all its a masjid and not an armoury. Pakistan had never seen a situation as the one created by the Ghazi brothers. Our mosques are revered and not used to host militants who challenge the writ of the government.
Instead of kidnapping people from the places of ill-repute, the Mulana sahib and his followers should have used other peaceful means including sit-ins and demonstrations. Yet the choice was to pick up the gun and challenge the government so they would go down in a blaze of glory (at the expense of the poor who were brainwashed into thinking that their own government was against them which is not the case).
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Dec 08, 2010 05:09pm
Yes and what would you say when a bullet is fired from the mosque? Is that enough justification to use force or to shoot back at the mosque?
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Dec 08, 2010 05:25pm
I disagree and I believe that killing people was not an option at all in the first place and was never justified (as the writer says). Islamabad is my city and I think the problem would have never occurred at first place if our so-called spy agencies could have pin-pointed it. After all it is a sensitive place and I wonder how they were able to build (large pile of ammunition "as the authorities claim") a few meters away from the ' Taj Mahal' of our rulers? What were they doing and still not learning.
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Dec 08, 2010 04:57pm
If I agree to the writer that operation was needed jst because they weren't so called "open minded", then I hope you will be able to say that operation in places like karachi can be justified because they holding hole nation hostage.
I think people need to reconsider who we are, we are Umah of the religion and Prophet that tells you not to use force against women, elderly and in kids even in times of war.
They were also Pakistani, there were our sisters, brothers and elders. Eventhought if you don't like some people action, in democracy you have laws, they should have been dealt according to your so revered 1973 law, not by bombs.
I hate you liberals but I don't go around and bomb your houses, I think in my country you have right to say what you like also.
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Dec 08, 2010 04:57pm
The action was absolutely essential. He should have acted much earlier: Unfortunately, he was thinking like a politician instead of a general that he was. Criminals like these should not get a free pass and the military action should be shift and decisive.
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Dec 08, 2010 03:15pm
Whether the action on Lal Masjid was inevitable or not, The way it was done was wrong. Hundreds of innocent lives were lost which they(Govt of that time) didn't confess.
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Dec 08, 2010 09:20am
What this terrorists, so called jehadis want to achieve. Why don't they come and sit for negotiation. Hundreds of people die because of Mullah's inhuman mentality. We are chanting all the time Islam is peace of religion , peace of religion, I agree it is true. But see what this fanatic mullah's doing to this peace of religion . Blasphemy laws ,no tolerance to other religion, inhuman treatment to minorities , where is our society going.
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Dec 08, 2010 09:18am
Musharraf did a right thing at a wrong time and in a wrong manner, any mosque becoming den of FASAD needs to be eliminated as it can be found in Sunnah. Army should have done the operation immediately on arrival,anyway,s done is done.
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Dec 08, 2010 09:17am
Indira Gandhi had to take such a decision when she ordered the assault on Golden Temple. Such decisions attract much criticism at the time, but now, because of that decision, Sikh militants have been annihilated from India.
The enemies of the state must be completely wiped out no matter what the cost is. The Lal-Masjid operation is a failure because most of the militants are still at large and are a threat to this state.
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Dec 08, 2010 04:42pm
I agree with Sabih - No nation can run its business when places of worship become arsenals run by fanatics - Musharraf or no Musharraf.
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Dec 08, 2010 04:43pm
What Musharaf did was badly needed and we thank him for that.
By the way, how would you justify terrorists and talibans. All these terrorists have created hell in our country and are killing innocent civilians almost everyday.
No justification is needed to go against terrorism. I hope you will think twice next time before writing such type of comments.
Goga Nalaik
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Dec 08, 2010 09:01am
Agreed!
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Dec 08, 2010 04:19pm
Followers of Musharraf like you cannot say anything more than this. Your mind is too narrow to imagine the pain inflicted on the parents and families of the not hundreds but thousands of children killed in the operation.
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Dec 08, 2010 04:37pm
Lal Masjid operation : it was certainly one of the good actions done by Musharraf and we thank him for that.
What made me sick was that in the very evening of lal mosque operation, a known but cheap anchor of Peo TV had already declared the killed molvi as "shaheed". It was rather more disgusting ...!
Goga Nalaik
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Dec 08, 2010 03:55pm
How can you even call that place a "mosque"?
Mosques are places of worship, not warehouses for klashnikovs.
It was a terrorist haven that should've been taken down a long time ago.
Any sympathizers are akin to accessories to terrorism!
We need to root out the evil of intolerance from our streets, both ideologically and literally.
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Dec 08, 2010 03:56pm
Musharraf did the right thing, although Army & our intelligence agencies who have created and supported these terrorist should be brought to justice. Pakistan lost its stature in the league of nation due to wrong policies of Army & corrupt politicians.
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Dec 08, 2010 08:37am
Such operations may be more harder than the one in Lal Masjid should continue for a year or so to eliminate or erdicate extremists from our soil. We have to do it quickly otherwise.....
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Dec 08, 2010 08:32am
That is a very good observation. But whole blame cannot be put on the operation. Releasing the same criminals after operation, unjust media coverage is something that should be addressed.
I think Musharraf should've tried police first and try getting them arrested.
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Dec 09, 2010 07:35am
I believe Musharraf did his utmost best to resolve the issue. He even offered these guys house arrest at a place of their choice. The peace negotiations were going successfully, evident from the fact that about 600 people came out peacefully earlier. Basically, its our political mullahs who saw the peaceful negotiations going well and feared that Musharraf's popularity would grow. So they decided to torpedo the negotations and started urging Ghazi brothers to stick to their point. Interestingly, at the same time some militants decided to take matter into their own hands and decide to fire shots at the security forces. In short there were too many interests involved and most of them didnt want a peaceful solution.
Even Ghazi Abdur Rasheed, who died in action, realized towards the end that he was betrayed by his people. (Watch his interviews towards the end of Lal Masjid saga) He had become a hostage of his own action. To our political mullahs, he was better dead than alive. The writer doesnt seem to have complete knowledge of this story.
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Dec 10, 2010 03:35am
Yes you should have been in charge of the operation
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Dec 08, 2010 08:12am
Demolation of Lal Masjid was essential and what General Musharraf did was totally correct. If this action was not taken i believe to day every nook and corner of Islamabad would have turned into Lal Masjid along with those so called warriors of God hanging around, making life misriable of peaceful citizens of Pakistan. In my openion our Judiciery committed big blunder by letting Lal Masjid criminals loose just to gain cheap popularity from the public.
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Dec 08, 2010 02:48pm
At the time of the standoff, I was arguing with my friends there should not be an assault. Rather, cut off their supplies, and they'll come out on their own. Afterall, how long can they possibly be holed up in a mosque without food, water, gas and electricity. History has taught us attacking places of worship, whether belonging to your own religion or any other religion always comes back to haunt. Another example is Indira Gandhi's assassination by her sikh bodyguards, in response to her orders for storming the Golden Temple. If you notice, suicide bombings within rest of Pakistan have increased since the storming of Lal Masjid.
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Dec 08, 2010 02:40pm
i thing we all forget that what is main cause of this mystery ....................... if we look in past the main culprit of this Lal Masjid was previliged by our well politician ............... every one knows his name ............ and if punjab govt is ordered for the release of those terrorist ................ then its totally our fault means people of pakistan ...... who choose them for all this actions.... which is not in favour of country ................... please evaluate our selves before we choose our govt members....... otherwise we will many LAL MASJID in future.
MAY GOD SAVE OUR COUNTRY ............... from all enemies as mentioned
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Dec 08, 2010 02:27pm
I am very sorry to say to those who think this brutal action was inevitable and justified. As they don't know the ins and outs of the whole story. What exactly happened is still a mystery but to me, it is a black spot on us as Muslim nation where whoever wants to be a good Muslim or other to be a good Muslim will be martyred.
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Dec 09, 2010 07:21pm
I don't agree with the writer some other strategy should have been applied. This short cut has worsened the conditions in Pakistan. Now it is not a safe place to live in and look what happened to the person who ordered this operation, he can't come back to his own country.
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Dec 08, 2010 02:12pm
No Noman, get your own facts correct. The court actually let those people go. What proof did the government need. The whole attack was filmed on TV. The courts made that decision just to go against the government as the corrupt politicians like Nawaz and BB were supporting the judiciary.
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Dec 08, 2010 02:11pm
Actually the world completely supported Musharaf. It is the Pakistanis who were against this action by calling those terrorists their "brothers and sisters". In any case, the operation was the only way. The writer's premise is that if by fighting evil more evil is created then one should not fight evil. The problem is not that Lal Masjid was rightfully attacked but that those crazy terrorists were allowed to leave and form other evil organizations. I still remember TV in Pakistan showing those women terrorists pleading people to fight against the government.
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Dec 13, 2010 11:42am
A mosque is a place of worship.
A place where peacfull discourse is provided to the followers.
It is a place where likeminded people meet on a regular basis to worship.
ALLAH (PBUH) made namaaz ( 5 daily prayers ) , one of the pillars of (peacefull) ISLAM.
Then why is it that the followers allow sermons in mosques to be full of anger and hate?
It is up to the UMMAH to discredit any MULLAH that is inciting the people.
All MOSQUES should be used for the PURPOSE of its creation only!!!!!
And this is with respect from a HINDU BROTHER to the MUSLIM UMMAH.
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Dec 09, 2010 04:35pm
If Musharaf followed Nadir advice
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Dec 09, 2010 04:22pm
Noor,
Unjustified person? because he was undemocratic?
You should be thankful that Zardari is the democratic president.
To me the most important thing is the leader of masses. If he is honest and responsible person then nation will flourish, otherwise only he and his family will flourish, which is happening now.
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Dec 09, 2010 04:24pm
Assalam-O-Alikum,
We took Pakistan in the name of Islam, and we made promise will Allah (SW) that we will practice Islam in the gifted land. I strongly believe that Pakistan has produced one of the best religious scholars in the world. But the quantity of such scholars is always superseded by the majority of those scholars who ...
It is also worth mentioning that the current generation in Pakistan is mostly illiterate. Although, they are well equipped in Arts and Sciences, but they have failed miserably to find any connection with The Book of Allah (SW). It is not The Mullahs who has hijacked Islam, it is the current generation who has left Islam. The reason for making such a huge statement is based on my empirical knowledge which I gained after teaching in different universities in Pakistan and abroad.
So, roughly speaking, Pakistan can be divided into two groups, illiterate religious scholars, and illiterate people like me. A common religious scholar lacks the ability to extrapolate the Islamic teachings to the current society while a common person finds himself "knowledge enough" to make a statement about Islam without knowing anything about Islam. In such a critical situation, media has played the role of a catalyst to bring both groups to the brink of an unending war.
Instead of criticizing anybody, we have to learn from our mistakes. Fusion of Islamic knowledge with scientific knowledge is the need of the time. Everything is beneath your finger tips, its all boils down to how sincere you are! Neither Quran, Ahadith, Tafseer, nor other Islamic literature was meant to be kept at higher places at homes. You are supposed to understand it and take your responsibility of telling everybody the connection between Islam and Science. May Allah (SW) guides us to Saratay Mustaqeem (amin).
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Dec 09, 2010 03:36pm
So Nalaik saab,
The killings of "hostages" is justified? In no sane society killing without a trial is justified whether its of the Mullah and the gang or its hostages. The drones attacks is the extension of this mindset with horrendous fallouts this country has ever seen.
The bigger point is how this fly turned into a monster right under the nose of the establishment in the capital territory.
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Dec 09, 2010 04:09pm
David,
There are Mullahs (prefer to call them Musfti or scholars of Islam) who have openly denounced actions by these barbarians whom I won't call a Muslim; not even humans. These righteous Mullahs have been targeted in mosque during prayers and were murdered for their stand against such militancy. In fact, before the Lal Masjid operation was conducted, President Musharaf sent a team of well-renowned scholars to convince leaders of Lal Masjid that their acts are un-Islamic and they should step down.
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Dec 09, 2010 03:23pm
Very True.
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Dec 09, 2010 02:57pm
It is a topic related to religious extremism. We are simply considering it in the perspective of a specific event. What these people do to earn their livelihood? Do they work hard like other folks? It is very easy to create a hysteria involving hatred and propaganda in the name of religion. The people of Pakistan are giving to much attention to these extremists which they do not deserve.
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Dec 08, 2010 01:54pm
and what if the Mosques are unjustly using force? Sympathy for these extremist mullahs has made Pakistan a hot bed for terrorist organisations.
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Dec 08, 2010 01:50pm
Justice..... For All is my only reply....
The Important question is not that Musharraf was right or Ghazi was doing right....My opinion both are wrong.... I pray the God please make them example who are using their power and influence to achieve their personal objective... this not link to Islam, Pakistan and poor people....
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Dec 08, 2010 01:49pm
Ironically it was the media which spread the false roumers turning the red mosque terrorists into Heros. Even the supreme court was he'll bent on invalidating actions of the govt releasing many terrorists in the process. Some of those released killed many innocents later. Should not the suddenly honorable justices answer for this.
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Dec 08, 2010 01:45pm
This government should heed your advise and should act like a sitting duck the terrorist will one day surrender their weopans
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Dec 13, 2010 10:57am
This is a million dollar question
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Dec 08, 2010 01:33pm
Nadir has given the reply in his article you should read it again or reproduce some lines from his article "Had Musharraf taken quick, decisive action
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Dec 08, 2010 01:30pm
Yes you are right the mullahs of lal masjid desecrated the mosque by using it for their own neferious designs they should be condemned
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Dec 09, 2010 11:49am
Those innocent civilians were given enough time to surrender and come out of the mosque but nobody showed up. Infact, they were made hostages by the molvi who got killed and his gang.
There was no other solution left.
Goga Nalaik
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Dec 08, 2010 01:29pm
Most of the so called experts only focus on what happened after Lal Masjid Operation, but nobody tells us that, if such operation had not taken place, many more mosques would have taken the path of Lal Masjid. Thanks Allah Almighty, Musharaf was in power and he did, what a true and great leader would have done. Its because of Musharaf that no other Mosque has taken that rout to terrorise society. The bloody consequences emerged, because people aroud Musharaf were hypocrats, and they did not take appropriate steps. If anyone thinks, terrorists of Lal Masjid should have been allowed to escape, is a friend and supporter of terrorists. The policy to give terrorists escape routes has failed, only solution lies in Musharaf policy, kill them in their hideouts. God save us from such experts and bring Musharaf back.
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Dec 09, 2010 10:27am
i think parents of those pupils are less to blame than the economic condition of that social class they were born raised and then sent to places like LM....i mean they were getting food shelter and "EDUCATION" and all sort of other securities....
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Dec 09, 2010 12:18pm
Operation was inevitable and should have been done with more wisdom and tactfulness; all the innocent lives should have been saved by apprantly allowing a passage to militants and then once kids and woman are seprated, the militants would have been dealt accordinly.
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Dec 08, 2010 01:23pm
Ali
Islam teaches us justice last Prophet (PBUH) said that if my daugther had committed any crime I would have punished here. In recent history Saudi Arabia used force in Kabba to curb the dissidents. It is foremost duty of any government to maintain law and order in the country and remember "fasad fil urz" is the most henious crime in the Islam and Lal Masjid terrorist committed the "Fasad fil urz" thats why wafaq-ul-madarass suspended their membership
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Dec 13, 2010 09:19am
Yes you are right we should up root all fanatical out fits before they can grow into big monsters
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Dec 13, 2010 09:13am
Dear Sana,
Can you or any body give the names of those "Hundreds of innocent lives were lost which they(Govt of that time) didn
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Dec 13, 2010 09:16am
Who made them "hostages" the mullahas of Lal Masjid Government of that time tried their best to take out as many people as she can that's why the execution of operation took so long please do not distort history
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Dec 09, 2010 08:10am
a few tv channels adhered to mullhas cause and strongly defended their action. That
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Dec 08, 2010 11:35pm
I grew up saying prayers in Lal Mosque. What a place it was, a symbol of piece brotherhood and harmony. But, it was these mullahs
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Dec 13, 2010 09:09am
Excellent comment Khalid, i hope people understand the tone and tenor you ask Muslims in Pakistan to look at their religion. The wayward, illogical hatred rampant amongst many, esp those illiterate needs your voice to be heard more.
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Dec 09, 2010 08:00am
I want to Appreciate your comments but i most like your this Point "Religious leaders know nothing except religion books and try to capture power directly, by fooling people about their connection with God." Thanks
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Dec 09, 2010 08:01am
Lal Masjid operation : it was certainly one of the good actions done by Musharraf and we thank him for that.
What made me sick was that in the very evening of lal mosque operation, a known anchor of Peo TV had already declared in his talk show that the killed molvi was a
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Dec 09, 2010 07:54am
musharraf has taken a right decision.....to deal with terriort a person has to strick....when it comes on mullah a person dont have to be strick...dont u think so the people who were living & studying in lal masjid were millitant and masjid is using for traning not for praying....i felt that u r bilnd or u dont wnat to have a truth...ok if u have any alternative to deal with terrorist & terrorism u sould suggest...if not then dont critrize military what malitery is doing is a right thing....plz stop criticizing....if u have any suggestion then suggest other than that dont become critics....
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Dec 09, 2010 06:21am
hmmm.... i see people pointing fingers at musharraf. i don't see anyone giving an example of similar situation handled in a different way and had better results? anyone? someone? or am i going to hear more of the politically biased and motivated comments?
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Dec 09, 2010 06:08am
Nadir, I want to appreciate you on writing this. Extremist topic requires the courage to write this stuff. You are a bold man. Operation should be done to eradicate the "so-called" muslims.
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Dec 09, 2010 05:48am
If my brother and/or sister became and militants and started hurting people then yes, I would want my brother and/or sister to be hurt during an operation.
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Dec 09, 2010 05:45am
Musaraf was right this time. Cutting power and water does not help, as terrorists confined some civilians and women in the compound, and all of them will die if water is cut. By applying force, there is a chance that some of the civilians can be saved.
But more such problems may appear in future, ( it happened once in Amritsar, India ) as long as some people think religion is above politics and science. Politicians at least do some work for people and know the problems of common people before getting power. Religious leaders know nothing except religion books and try to capture power directly, by fooling people about their connection with God.
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Dec 08, 2010 02:58pm
While going to G/6/4 and crossing the Sunday bazaar I happened to see armed dhata men/women with kilishinkov and lathis even I saw anti tank rockets on the roof. The Government and law enforcing authorities may have thought that it will subside in due course. Instead they started furious activities all over Islamabad and beyond. It was a perfect action by the government but delayed. Then acquitting the notorious Burqa clad man and his wife was a bad act. The action should have been more drastic to set an example. The behavior of our clergy and politicians remained very conspicuous before, during and after wards.. Every one should learn a lesson.
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Dec 08, 2010 03:06pm
Mullah`s of Lal Masjid were practically rulling the city, defying and openly challenging government writ at every stage. Remember `Islamic students` of Lal Masjid roamed the city freely shutting down Musical shops, arresting locals and foreigners at will. You can debate merits or demerits of the ultimate operation till the cows come home but the fact remains that there was no other option except to put down this rebellion. With the benefit of hindsight I would suggest that `operation or action` was not thought through. Media over played their distorted coverage directly negociating live on TV with Mullahs and airing their benign input.
As an after thought just contemplate `what if Mullahs ` had had their way ??????????????
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Dec 09, 2010 04:33am
mullahs are the most blasphemous people , they have hijacked the religion. It is the young people who are being brainwashed. wake up students and lawyers, only you can save the country.
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Dec 09, 2010 04:16am
As mentioned earlier the issue can be dealt with without force as a result of handling the issue in such a disasterous manner the millitant mentally aroused in many of the tribal regions including swat and all the havoc which is now out of control in our country is due to this operation which took place by keeping only one dimensional aspect without analyzing the implication of the aftermath turmoil it could have bring.
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Dec 09, 2010 03:46am
I do not understand why none of the mullahs denounce what is being done by these people.I have not seen much protest by the socieity againt the menace of terror.killing people . no value of human life. What do these people again by killing innocent and blowing themselves.
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Dec 08, 2010 01:16pm
No infact Lal masjid operation brought some credibilty to Pakistan world saw that Pakistan is sincere in her fight against terrorism espacially the terrorism which was designed against own people. Musharraf will be remembered for his decision making ability nobody before Musharraf had dared to challeneged these fanatics.
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Dec 08, 2010 01:16pm
The problem is not having respect for the rule of law or clean implementation of the law. How on earth can you acquit people who are almost surely the criminals. Does anyone here know what happened to the two men who were brought to court for blasting the Danish embassy? They were released because apparently there wasn't sufficient evidence even though countless eye witnesses testified that they saw those two men roaming around the embassy area minutes before the blast.
What on earth is going on? If carrying out such a heinous crime is so easy in our country then whats the use of even fighting it. Just let it be.
The same is happening in this regard as well. If one government (Musharraf's) imprisoned the Lal Masjid militants then why is another government (Shahbaz Sharif) letting them free? Just to tell the nation that the previous government was wrong? Get past these personal grudges and please think for the betterment of the country.
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Dec 09, 2010 02:32am
Dear Mr. Hasan,
I think Mullahs will love you. This is what they want - any kind of action against them is a mistake. However, this is not the first time in the world that govt troops had to storm a religious place to take on those who challenge govt's writ and take a cover behind religion. Public must never support religious fanatics as they are million times more dangerous than a corrupt and inefficient govt. The desired results were not achieved because there was no follow-up on that.
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Dec 08, 2010 10:05pm
How can you justify having weapons in a mosque. It should have been stormed and the terrorist should have been killed.
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Dec 09, 2010 01:41am
Disagreed,
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Dec 09, 2010 01:10am
Exactly...a masjid should never have been used by these terrorists for their crimes in the first place i.e. the maulvi brothers and their associates. I pray to God Almighty that my brothers/sisters/friends/countrymen/brothers&sisters-in-islam don't associate themselves with terrorists.
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Dec 08, 2010 11:01pm
correct !!!!
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Dec 08, 2010 10:56pm
The reconciliations were dragging on and the militants were getting stronger on their stand.
Sometimes talks/reconcilliations are useless if the second party is not willing to listen or co-operatee.
The action by Musharraf was rightly justified. Hats off to him.
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Dec 08, 2010 10:59pm
100% to the point
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Dec 08, 2010 10:37pm
That is right. Musharraf, though not my favorite, did this rightfully and quite a bit late. Would it have occurred in other civilized capital or city in the world, they would have come down overwhelmingly hard on these extremists. Protection of person, property and freedom of citizens have to the be first priority of the government no matter who is in power.
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Dec 14, 2010 07:11am
@MONA: We should think rationally, we should look at the consequences of whatever was done at that time. Was it helpful to reduce the terrorism, did it help to bridge the gap between left and right. Wasn
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Dec 08, 2010 10:11pm
Musharraf is not to be blamed for this. The Mullah terrorists are to be blamed because they turned a house of worship into a den of terrorists with automatic weapons, grenades etc. Mullahs were the greatest threat to Pakistan and Islam and they always will be. The Sharifs and the courts are to be blamed for the release of all terrorists and responsible for the deaths of all the innocents.
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Dec 08, 2010 09:44pm
I feel you bro. But negotiation is not an option with terrorists.
its easy to say that country is going bad hands. but then there will be a breaking point. Actually the more people die, the faster they reach the brim that soon.
Because you have to shout to the deaf. They dont hear when you say softly.
No religion is peaceful or violent. Every single holy book in the world speaks of love, peace and war and blood. There are mentions of honesty and tyranny in all books.
Its the people who screw up the religions. Islam is not to blame. Quran is not to blame. Interpretations of Quran and their interpretors are to blame. But rather than getting shunned, they are gaining popularity, thats painful.
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Dec 24, 2010 04:00pm
Mr. Kashmiri & Mr. Truth,
You want us to handover this country, which was created by LIBERALS to fanatics like Taliban so that they can destroyed is completely as the Taliban did in Afghanistan
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Dec 08, 2010 09:36pm
live up to your name 'el diablo'. Solution isnt so simple sir. There is no way you can negotiate with a terrorist. I mean NEVER negotiate with a terrorist. Once done, it is like a free pass to anyone who got a gun and some guts.
They want to die for a cause, shoot them in the head and let them have their wish fulfilled. A person who does not understand the value of life (self or others) has no right to live and Human Rights should not apply to that person.
I am a huge fan and staunch supporter of Human Rights but I distinguish between human and inhuman. To protect human rights, eradicate inhumanity.
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Dec 08, 2010 01:11pm
And what do you suggest the government should have done? Waited for the armed madrassah students to take over Islamabad?
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Dec 24, 2010 04:12pm
Mr. Khalid, I respectfully disagree with your very first sentence of your letter above where you stated as follows: " We took Pakistan in the name of Islam, and we made promise will Allah (SW) that we will practice Islam in the gifted land.
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Dec 08, 2010 08:45pm
Well said. Good explanation of possible results for the society.
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Dec 08, 2010 08:43pm
These mullas have even no understanding of Islam-religion of peace. They want to conquer the world in the name of Islam & thus fight with the whole world. See what future we want for ourselves? Do we want to become another Somalia, or Iraq?
Blasphemy laws have legal lacunae. The law must be imroved or even scrapped. Which other Islamic country has such a law? Can some one elaborate.
Our beloved prophet is "rehmat lil almeen" & we are bent upon killing people even without being proven guilty. In this there is important media role as well who should educate people positively & not make it sensational / emotional issue.
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Dec 08, 2010 08:38pm
Government used force, but what Lal masjid terrorists were doing? throwing flowers...If I had my brother or sister there, I would have taken them away months before operation. As a parent, whenever there is some loud noise outside my home, I immediatley start looking for my kids and make sure that they are safe. What kind of parents were those, whose young sons and daughters were residing in Lal masjid and adjacent madrassh and for months there were skirmishes outside Lal Masjid and everyone knew that an operation is inevitable, but the parents did not take away their kids to safety. if ours was a civilized country, all those parents would have been sent to jail for indefinite period.
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Dec 08, 2010 08:28pm
Its because like our American gods, we are in search for an instant cure for this 'global insurgency' and we have ignored ALL the reasons behind. A nice piece on how to deal with this and how not, but we need people to talk about why this happened and how to avoid it from happening again.
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Dec 08, 2010 08:17pm
I don't understand that how come so called lal masjid got so much weapons and people willing to kill their own people,and how come you do a jihad in pakistan,it is already a muslim state and all the laws are there to protect muslims,and if this is Islam than its very bad and the people in power should realise that to fight islam in pakistan is rediculous,and state should have control of the country and they should be in a position to set standards and good example of governance,until than then only Allah is great and looking after this land.
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Dec 08, 2010 11:33am
An unjustified person (Musharaf) can not justify any action before justifying his position.
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Dec 08, 2010 07:06pm
This expected 'special' treatment of religious places and persons is one of the reasons these terrorist thought that they could get away with challenging the authorities and imposing what they believe to be 'islam' on ordinary people. Law is law, and religion should be no exception!
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Dec 08, 2010 06:46pm
At the first hand, Pakistan has to properly administrate the country in all fields. Why, this Red Mosque was allowed to be constructed! Why arms smuggling was not monitored! No one should be allowed to take the law in hand, be a mosque or a school !
Corruption in the country is damaging the country.
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Dec 08, 2010 11:52am
good strategy should be made by the pakistan's administartionbut unfortunately the operation cut a bad image internationally b/c our own people were fighiting with each other,if they adopted the way of reconciliation,the matter could be resolved peacefully
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Dec 08, 2010 12:40pm
Try living in the real world. The action was inevitable.
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Dec 24, 2010 04:07am
Lal Masjid incident demonstrates how much havoc and damage few ignorant, misguided Mullahs can cause using the name of a sacred, peaceful religion Islam. We must recognize and be vigilant that there is a lot of evil amongst us. We need to be vigilant and should not follow those who exploit our love and respect of Islam. Please remember many acts are committed using the good name of every religion.
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Dec 13, 2010 06:47pm
i applaud your comments for the muslim ummah. Some will listen and appreciate; many others will only think they have nothing to learn from a person of another faith....don't be disappointed though.
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Dec 11, 2010 03:03pm
For heaven sake stop this propaganda of innovent children & women were killed there. The whole world saw the terrorists at red mosque with guns and gas masks preparing to fight with the army. You, the supporters of red mosque extremist have no proofs that women and children were killed there. Its just a baseless propaganda.
Enough time was given to people inside the mosque to come out & many people opted for that . In case anyone choses to disobvey the law of the land and fight with the army, then why to cry afterward.
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Dec 14, 2010 02:58pm
No you are not correct if the issue could have been dealt without use of force then why Wafaq-ul-madarass and so many other religious and noteable personalities failed to achieve the same ? can any body answer?
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Dec 14, 2010 02:30pm
Watch it Singh. dont start criticizing all mullahs here, some of them must have been on the wrong track but else are the most respectful persons in our society, and these are the people who guide us in the time of need.
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Dec 16, 2010 09:03pm
A brilliant question but I bet you won' get its answer Samiullah.
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Dec 23, 2010 01:03pm
It is always difficult to put the Jinni back in the bottle, you either have to break the bottle or Kill the jinni.
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Dec 18, 2010 02:36pm
Ali your tone is rude. The gentlemen has a right to say whatever he feels is correct. I cant help but think that in some ways you both are right.
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Dec 18, 2010 02:41pm
If a bullet is fired from there then yes. Guns should not be located or used in a place of worship.can you tell me why this mosque had weapons in it? Can you?
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