Qamrul A. Khanson (North American Published Author)
Mississauga July 2007: Pakistan is standing on the crossroad where the conflict between moderate Muslims and extremist Muslims has taken a shape of violent turn. The state machinery is facing revolt from their own once supported extremist groups. For the majority of fundamentalist Pakistani Muslims, the killing of Abdul Rashid Ghazi and his fellow supporters in Lal Masjid would pave the way for an Islamic revolution but for the moderate majority of Pakistan, it would help establish law and order in the Islamic republic of Pakistan.
The revolt in Jamie Hafsa has ended but chances of increased terrorist activities in Pakistan have increased manifold. No doubt, President Pervez Musharraf would have breathed well on the completion of state mission in Lal Masjid but the ruins in Lal Masjid reminded us of the ongoing similar conflicts among the Muslims in Algeria, Somalia, Afghanistan, Yemen, Iraq, Turkey and Lebanon. But as a peace loving citizens of the world we must appreciate all law enforcement agencies including police, Rangers and armed forces for proving their professional excellence during Lal Masjid operation, and pay tribute in particular to Special Services Group (SSG) and Anti-Terrorists Force.
We must pray Almighty Alloh for bestowing all martyrs a place in heaven and also pray for the soon recovery of injured people who took a brave mission to defend Pakistan against sedition and revolt. Despite the success of state machinery against the sedition, it is not the moment to celebrate. This is a time to mourn and to ponder over the situation and re-evaluate the deeds which led to such circumstances. One must ponder what if the lost lives were utilized to defend Pakistan rather than wasting their efforts against the state machinery of Islamic republic of Pakistan.
President Musharraf feels a deep grief because he feels, he did not conquer against any enemy; rather it was an action against his own people who had strayed from the righteous path and followed terrorism and extremism. In any country whether Islamic or un Islamic, no one has the right to take up arms against an established state. Otherwise, it is considered sedition and revolt against the constitution of the state. Islamic beliefs and values preach to honor humanity. Life is a precious gift of Almighty Alloh, and He is the only one who bestows and takes back life.
As an ordinary Muslim, we should ask the followers of Lal Masjid sedition, in Islam, the killing of one human being is equivalent to the massacre of entire humanity. So what kind of Islam the Lal Masjid and Jamie Hafsa were propagating? No doubt, the Lal Masjid administration was using minor children as shield and was deceiving them in the garb of teaching Islamic education. The administration transformed Madrassah into a warfare fortress and also provided shelter to terrorists. There used to be present more than five thousand men and women at a time. But their very heinous act of sedition against the state, many needy students lost their chance of free Islamic education and learnt an expensive experience which will haunt them in their remaining lives.
They had formed Lal Masjid’s baton-wielding women brigade. The men were armed with weapons. They forcefully occupied Children Library, and destroyed the nearby shops, held policemen hostage and snatched their weapons. They damaged official buildings, set them on fire, and even kept on looking the national flag burning at the buildings. They did not let fire brigade perform its duties and killed a soldier of Pakistan Rangers.
President Musharraf in his national broadcast gave the example of Lal Masjid’s terrorist action when seven nationals of China were abducted by them. This shameful incident happened to the people who are Pakistan’s best friend, who always supported Pakistan, stood by Pakistan in troubled times and also helped the Islamic nation in economic, trades and defense fields. To held hostage Chinese nationals was very shameful act of Lal Masjid administration. The Chinese President called President Musharraf on telephone and asked to ensure security of its citizens. They do enjoy security all over the world and if their citizens are not secure in a country, for which they did a lot and still doing, it should be awful for the administration and people of Pakistan. Overall, the terrorists from Lal Masjid challenged the Pakistan government’s writ as a whole, which could not be accepted by any Islamic nation.
Due to these incidents, the government and President Musharraf came under-pressure from majority of Pakistanis to take action. Even it was being alleged by some quarters that the government was involved with the extremists and is deceiving the world, country and the people, and playing tricks and political games with them. The reality is that if Pakistan army were to kill them, they would have done so on the first day and the government was strong enough to take action the very first day. But this could have led to a loss of hundreds and thousands lives. But the restraint and patience shown by the government fell on the deaf ears and stubbornness of Lal Masjid administration continued until enough was enough. Here is the part text of President Musharraf speech which is self explanatory:
President Musharraf said: Now you have the results of the operation before you. Ten army men were martyred, while 33 were injured and almost all of them are commandos of Anti-Terrorist Force. That is why I salute them and along with them some 75 extremists were killed. I am sad on this because no one feels happy over the death or killing of a human being. And nor do I feel happy on this. But I and the government of Pakistan tried best and made every effort to find a solution to this tragedy. We arranged their contact and parleys with Council of Islamic Ideology and Wafaq ul Madaris, even invited Imam-e-Kaaba, so that he could convince them, but invain. Therefore I feel very sad for the loss of human lives, but it had become inevitable for Pakistan.
President Musharraf said: Why this process of talks failed? A lot is being said on this; all types of televised discussions are also going on air. I do not want to go into detail. But I want to tell that this process failed because the first demand of Rasheed Ghazi was to provide him a safe passage, which meant that there should be no trial of him, and the second was that he and his companions get general amnesty.
And (they demanded) this general amnesty should be from the time when the Children’s Library was occupied six months ago and whatever happened afterwards - our people were killed and martyred. First a soldier from Rangers was martyred, then Col. Haroon was martyred, government buildings were set on fire, people were kidnapped, police personnel were made hostages, weapons were snatched - (The demanded ) all this should be pardoned. And later they demanded that safe passage should also be given to the foreigners. How could the government accede to all these demands. How could the government take this dictation. Therefore the negotiations failed and the operation started.
President Musharraf said: Now the question is what has to be done in future. By this action I want to tell clearly that extremism and terrorism have not been eliminated from Pakistan. But this should be clear that we are firmly committed to eradicate terrorism and extremism from the country. We have to eradicate terrorism and extremism from every province and from every nook and corner. And I have firm belief that through our resolve, we will wipe out terrorism and extremism from every part of Pakistan. We also know that the extremists who were in Lal Masjid and Jamie Hafsa had contacts with people in some areas of NWFP and FATA. Therefore the federal government will fully support, help and coordinate with the provincial government to tackle this. And to provide this help, new recruitment will be made in all law enforcing agencies, NWFP police, Khasadars, Levies, Frontier Corps and Frontier Constabulary. Their numbers will be increased and they will provided with best weapons after their reorganization and better training. They will also be provided tanks and guns, which the army has already provided them. He army will assist the training and re-structuring of these organizations in six months and wherever they would require help in other fields, the army will fully provide assistance to them.
President Musharraf said: We have the determination that we will not allow in future any other mosque or madresah to be used illegally as Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa. I know that large majority of Pakistani population is moderate and now they are perturbed. They are concerned about what is happening to them and Pakistan as well. I appeal to all moderate people to come forward and join hands with the government in changing the mindsets of these misguided people.
President Musharraf said: I am addressing all the madaris and Wafaqul Madaris and want to tell them that as far as the madaris are concerned, I think no other person in the past argued so well in their favour in the world, in the United Nations and in the West. I told them that madaris are best non-governmental organizations. I removed misperceptions about the madaris and changed their mindsets about them. I changed their mind to the extent that they wanted to provide resources to improve the standard of the madaris. We had formulated a Madressah Strategy in coordination with the Wafaqul Madaris to bring poor children of madaris into the mainstream enabling them not only to play their role in the society but also contribute in the development of Pakistan.
President Musharraf said: I had such plan about the madaris and I will have. But, unfortunately, what was happening in the Jamia Hafsa, I have watched on television. There was a battle there and the weapons used there dashed my intentions to the ground. We will continue to put in our efforts but there was a huge loss. I appeal to all those who are operating madaris especially Ulema of Wafaqul Madaris to teach true Islamic values to their students, purge of violence and hate of their minds and also teach them worldly knowledge.
In my view Wafaqul Madaris will have to play a pro-active role in coordination with the government and their role will be to identify those madaris where extremism and militancy is being taught. I will appeal to you to prevent such practices and it was your suggestion and you should coordinate with the government in this respect. This is all I had to share with you. I pray that may Almighty Alloh protect all Pakistanis and <country-region><place>Pakistan from terrorists and extremists.
President Musharraf said: In the end, I pray that may Allah Almighty always protect our country, guide us and enable us to stand fast in every difficult time and there is always progress and prosperity in the country. May Allah embark us on the path of moderation and protect us from hardships (Ameen). May Alloh save us and Pakistan from all difficulties.
In conclusion we must agree that no one has the right to take up arms against the established state as in Pakistan and there is no such example in the Islamic world which would allow such a seditious act as did the administration of Lal Masjid. The Muslims living in an Islamic country must support their presiding leader unless the president declares infidelity.
President Musharraf is a moderate Muslim and a Pakistani nationalist; he must be supported to make Pakistan stable, viable and progressive. The nation of Pakistan shall not succumb to the bad examples created in Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, and Algeria. If people of Pakistan do not learn from the history of Muslims infighting then it is time to eradicate historical amnesia and learn what harm it gave to the Islamic world starting from the time of Imam Ali Bin Abi Talib to the modern day Afghanistan.
