Former interior minister Aftab Ahmad Sherpao has filed an affidavit before a one-member commission probing the Lal Masjid incident. The commission led by Shariah Court Judge Shahzado Sheikh met on Friday. Sherpao was asked whether a plan had been evolved to conduct the Lal Masjid Operation. He responded saying negotiations had been held to settle the matter to avoid human casualties, as that would tarnish the country’s image. He said that he had not been privy to the last round of talks as Shujaat Hussain had represented government, and reports regarding the dialogue had been sent directly to the prime minister and president. He said the presentation of Maulana Abdul Aziz in a veil before the media had been unfortunate. The maulana and his family had been kept in a guest house instead of a prison, he added. Pakistan Television Managing Director Mirza Yusuf Beg and ex-secretary Anwar Mehmood also appeared before the court and filed affidavits.
