Monday, April 23, 2012

Recalling Summer 2007 - Lal Masjid Incident


Listen to sounds of bullets fired, watching television all day and asking for mercy to Allah.

These are memories of the famous incident of the military operation of the Red Mosque in Islamabad in the summer of 2007. Moulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi and Moulana Abdur Rashid Ghazi, brother 2 imams and khateebs of Lal Masjid, had risen in rebellion against the Government of Pakistan. They wanted to establish an Islamic State in Pakistan with enforced Shariah law. With themselves, Umm-e-Hassaan, the principal of Jamia Hafsa and the wife of Moulana Abdul Aziz, had included the girls studied in children studying at the madrassa of Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa. Previously, these people had assumed a library.

Many agencies agreed to support these people, but in fact, these organisms were reliable as time showed. Therefore, the two moulanas were trapped with their "fighters" in the basement of the mosque. In addition, they were under siege and many of its resources were blocked.

However, the Government allowed a safe passage for students. 2 Moulanas decided that one of them must leave secretly and negotiate with the Government. Moulana Abdul Aziz, hidden in a burka, came out with girls, but failed in its objective and was captured. It was also humiliated by made to go in front of a camera to an interviewer in the same dress.

The siege was carried out by a few more days (not can't remember the exact number). One day, the media was able to get in touch with Moulana Abdur Rashid Ghazi and moulana knowing he had little time left in contact with most of the major TV channels from Pakistan.

He told the media that his mother was breathing her last and their last breaths were also about to come. Many of his classmates at the mosque were killed and many others were also in his last moments. Also gave a message that his movement will not come to an end, but others will be motivated by it. In the afternoon the news of his martyrdom was announced in the media.

This was at the time of the peak of President Musharraf (General) and had very little opposition because the majority of the people of Pakistan were his followers. However, once his Government ruthlessly killed the students of Lal Masjid and had completely destroyed Jamia Hafsa became unpopular among many of his supporters. This unpopularity became so high that when ordered that the mosque was painted white, many people spent there with red paint and he had painted red again.

Another reason for the increase of the unpopularity of President Musharraf was he besieged the mosque that was ancient and famous and many people go for prayer. Many people had sent their children there for education and they were of the opinion that the issue should be resolved through peaceful negotiations.

Many people consider the sacrifices of the 2 moulanas as heartbreaking while others consider it as a foolish Act. The moulanas had sacrificed all that stopped the cause of Allah, the establishment of an Islamic State. Students sacrificed their lives and one of the moulanas sacrificed his life. The parents came to take their children, but many returned empty-handed. Why, then, does the movement fail?? It was due to some simple but important reasons.

Firstly, as I mentioned earlier, the moulanas were relying on reliable sources which eventually betrayed them. Secondly, they had not shared its plan with any of his students and he had not sought permission from guardians of the students. However, it has been successful in the formation of many of them to obey his orders. Thirdly, the moulanas were not aware that the Government's response would be so severe.

Finally the most important reason was that the real leader was Umm-e-Hassaan. She had been giving speeches to his students and many other listeners that she instigated the audience rebelled against the Government of Pakistan. No part of the history of Islam there is any incident where a woman was turned into the leader, except for battle of Jamal (camel). Even during that battle, the leader, Hadhrat Aisha (RA), was defeated. As a result, many of the important Muslim leaders and scholars did not support the moulanas, while they were trying to restore good relations between the Government and the moulanas.

Therefore, in the summer of 2007, it would meet with many people I would like to say that the cause of the "fighters" of the mosque was correct but his method was not.




Posted by Imad - ud - din Saqib from his blog at http://www.islamicb.blogspot.com