Red Mosque (Islamabad, PK) - Page 4

Islamabad, July 10: Pakistani commandos and security forces stormed the Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa in Islamabad early on Tuesday morning, engaging the militants in close combat and clearing the complex room by room. At least 150 people were killed, and scores of others injured. The government put the death toll at approximately 50.

"Operation Silence" started at about 4.45 am (Pakistan time) and continued for over 15 hours. The area after the end of the operation was littered with the bodies of militants, security officials said. Pakistan interior secretary Syed Kamal Shah confirmed that the deputy chief of Lal Masjid, Maulana Abdul Rashid Ghazi, had been killed by law enforcement agencies during the operation. He said Ghazi had been hiding in a bunker on the mosque premises.

"Eight security forces men have died. We are not sure of the injured (securitymen) but there are over 30 injured," a security official told this newspaper. He added, "The casualties inside the mosque may be much higher than 150. There are dead bodies everywhere. The injured, well, they can't be counted. We will know later."

Operation Silence followed a last bid by the Pakistan government to resolve the issue peacefully through talks early on Tuesday. Former Pakistan Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had led a committee to hold talks with Maulana Abdul Rashid Ghazi. The talks continued for several hours but failed when the government changed its mind on giving safe passage to Maulana Ghazi. The ulema (clerics) who were part of the Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain-led committee refused to continue talks on an amended draft prepared by the government early on Tuesday.

Massive blasts rocked the Lal Masjid and intense gunfire was heard while thick plumes of smoke rose above the complex. Dozens of ambulances raced casualties to hospitals. Witnesses said many bodies lay inside the compound. After nine hours of heavy fighting, the mosque's main cleric was barricaded in the basement with some women and children, the Pakistan Army said. Militants armed with rocket launchers and machine guns were firing at troops from the minarets.

Several women in burqas and approximately 30 children escaped from the fortified mosque when the dawn attack began, but hundreds remained inside. "We took a step-by-step approach, a very deliberate approach, to make sure there was no unnecessary collateral damage," military spokesman Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad said, One of those killed was Maulana Ghazi's elderly mother, who died of suffocation from the smoke caused by the blasts. "Now we will identify the bodies and bury them, or hand them over to their families," an official said.

Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf authorised the storming of the mosque after talks with Maulana Ghazi broke down following an eight-day siege which had itself cost 24 lives. Pakistan religious affairs minister Ijazul Haq said the negotiations broke down because Maulana Ghazi demanded safe passage for "foreigners".

The security forces also captured Umm-e-Hasaan, the wife of Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz, and his daughter Asma during Operation Silence at Jamia Hafsa. Pakistan's Supreme Cou-rt adjourned the hearing on a suo motu notice of the Lal Majid situation till Friday. The court asked the secretary, interior, and crisis management cell to submit details of those killed or wounded and of hostages and released persons. The court adjourned the hearing till Friday.

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Originally posted by: mini2390

like i said before, ppl do speak and do question the politics in pakistan, everyday we here ppl on tv giving their point of views as to what shud be done and what shud not!.... ppl even come out onto the streets in pak when the governement rejects to relate to what the ppl say, even in this matter.... as to why isnt the government giving notice to North-west provinces, in this case NWFP!...... but ever since the USA attacked Afhgainstan in 2001, many afghans have travelled over to NWFP in escapism, sum with their talibanization thoughts, creating chaos in NWFP.. so ever since 2001, such tragic circumstances in pak have grown like never before!

ppl can speak and shout and scream for what is ryt, but its the gov't that has the final say and control , for instance, Pakistan was hit by a cyclone weeks back in the province of Balochistan.... thousands of ppl have died and many are left homeless in the scorching heat... Musharraf has done nothing to help them! reporters have gone there to depict the tragic conditions of all innocent ppl and those ppl say again and again that we have received nothing from the government, but only supplies from the people of pak, who have been giving donations!

so when some government officials cant take care of the lives of sum of its people who got hit by a disastrous cyclone, then what will the government do about the talibanization in north west province?

Musharraf is following the USAonly, to make them feel happy, in this so called "war on terror", which makes him blind folded when it comes to our internal problems regarding our own ppl, yet, when a "terror" issue arises, Musharraf is the first one to speak in order to "please" western super powers just to display an image that: "well, look, we do stand up for what is right"!... but when it comes to a matter regarding the betterment of the ppl, there is silence!

the most, any nation can do is protest, speak for what is right and change themselves in a positive manner for the betetrment off the nation, but not until the government wakes up from its sleep, nothing can happen... and that goes for every nation!

Once again I have never read anything as strong as this on terrorism debates on this forum. I am glad to read this but why should only govt. be blamed for everything?

You say that Musharraf speaks about terror issue to please west and I say that at least he has the guts to speak against terrorists. Most of the leaders seems to be supporting their acts.

Originally posted by: Modesty

Musharraf is denying them their basic right under the pretext - if he leaves then Radicals/Fanatics would takeover Pakistan.

That is what I said in a previous post on this thread. I am all in favor of democracy but once he leaves it is going to do more harm for the country.

Originally posted by: Maya_M

That is what I said in a previous post on this thread. I am all in favor of democracy but once he leaves it is going to do more harm for the country.

i agree with both of u.............i'm also in favour of democracy but Musharaf ke jaate hi jo bhi govt.aayegi wo in radical,extremists ka favour karegi n ho sakta hai ke pakistan bhi Afghanistan jaisa ban jaaye😕😕.................anyways whatever happens there uska effect INdia pe bhi padega,at least abhi USA ke pressure me hi sahi Pak. radical forces ko oppose to kar raha hai but once Musharaf out of power hota hai to India ke liye ziada badi threat rahegi radical forces ke supportwaale neighbour se deal karne me..............

India itne saalo se Pak se kehta aaya hai ke border ke madarso me extremists activities ho rahi hai,jaha se train hokar J&K me terrorist activitis kar rahe hai yehlog tab to Pak.ka kehna tha ke nahi yeh koi terrorists nahi hai to J&K ke freedom fighters hai..................ab kya kehna hai pak.ka unke hi country ke madarso me train ho rahe extremists pe......kahi yeh bhi to democracy ke liye lad rahe freedom fighters to nahi hai????......