What is the definition of a mosque (masjid) – a place of sanity for worship (of Allah) for the followers of Islam. Then what about a mosque which once became a central rallying point of militancy in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad’s heart? Should that place be exempted for state to take action against hardline militants stockpiling heavy weapons and waging a wave of terror across the capital? Didn’t the women students of Lal Masjid’s sister concern, Jamia Hafsa, occupy a children library and refused to vacate? Have they not intimidated the public by resorting to beatings and kidnappings? Have the mosque students not only displayed but used sophisticated weaponry against the security forces? Have they not attacked the police and rangers? Have they not occupied the government buildings?
All the male and female students, teachers and staff were given the opportunity to lay arms and leave the mosque, and hundreds of students and their teachers peacefully left the premises. One of them was the head of Lal Masjid who was arrested leaving the mosque while disguising as a veiled woman. Obviously, those who left in the mosque were hardliners who didn’t take the surrender option and decided to fight the security forces. In this backdrop, I fail to understand Supreme Court’s interference in this matter and the appointment of a one-man commission to investigate this blot on the religious institutes of Pakistan. During the review of a petition filed by Lal Masjid head, the Chief Justice remarked that those killed in the mosque were innocent girls. If the top judge of Pakistan’s Supreme Court has already determined that those who refused to leave the premises and kept fighting were innocent, then why waste tax-payers’ money on further investigation by this one-man judicial commission?
The CJ’s remarks and direction to judicial commission set the rules for investigation whose results are anyone’s guess. This trend is very evident from the release of several known militants by the courts on lack of evidence, loopholes in laws and other such excuses. The courts have very clearly taken a position in this polarised society who is fighting for its survival against a militant version of religion.
MASOOD KHAN
Jubail, Saudi Arab