The apex court had instructed the commission to investigate the causes that led to clash and to ascertain if the dead were identified and handed over to their legal heirs. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday ordered that the report on Lal Masjid operation be made public after it was compiled by a one man judicial commission.
Former President Pervez Musharraf, whose arrest has been ordered by the Islamabad High Court, could face further criminal charges if the report compiled by Federal Shariat Court and Justice Shahzado Sheikh rules against him.
A three member bench consisting of Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed said that the Lal Masjid operation, involving Jamia Hafsa students was witnessed by everyone as the media was reporting all the proceedings.
The commission recorded statements from over 300 witnesses. Amongst them were the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, former education minister Javed Ashraf Qazi, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Ijazul Haq, Tariq Azeem, Mohammad Ali Durrani, and Aftab Khan Sherpao.
The conflict with the Jamia Hafsa students had started when they had occupied a children's library on January 22, 2007 in response to the city administration razing seven "unauthorised" mosques. The conflict turned into a full fledged armed clash when a Rangers personnel was killed by gunfire issuing from the mosque on July 3.
The army was called in and special forces stormed the mosque after the suspension of water and electricity supply to the building failed to subdue the alleged militants.
The apex court had instructed the commission to investigate the causes that led to clash and to ascertain if the dead were identified and handed over to their legal heirs, the number of those killed, if any action was taken against the people responsible by the police and if it was possible to hold someone accountable for the incident.
According to legal experts, there is a possibility that witness' statements recorded by the commission might have singled out Musharraf as the person responsible since he was at the helm of affairs in 2007.
COMMENTS (27)
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lal masjid terrorists should have been handed down quick justice instead of waiting for 6 months.
the whole episode was run on TV, so every one knows how Lal masjid thugs started the entire fiasco.
@ Supreme Cout: Please make Arsalan Iftikhar corruption case public as well! We have a right to know!!
sad incidnt but i peoples from specific thought propagating false and baseless propagnda against lal masjid and jamia hafsa without evidnce
lal masjid operation,a dark chapter of pak hstry
an unfortunate incident may ALLAH bless the affectees with patience
Hey fellows,
There is no need for your undue excitements; this is how democracy and the rule of law functions! It is an education for you guys after having lived under the military man for a long time. Look across your shoulders in France, it is a routine for politicians to face the court for one or other suspicion of a misdeed. IMF chief is the next to face the judiciary music. Those who are innocents do not have to fear anything.
Rex Minor
raheel: hhahahahahah good joke
@raheel: Do not compare the martyrs of Karbala to the thugs at Lal Masjid. Granted innocent children being killed is never a good thing, but the responsibility of their deaths lies with the fascists inside the mosque. NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE UP ARMS AGAINST THE STATE.
Musharraf is innocent. It is the mullahs that broke the law. Why does no once in the shameless media raise their voice against those mullahs for killing Pakistani soldiers? Why don't they speak up and call the mullahs out on terrorism activities? Because they are cowards. God help Pakistan. Support Musharraf. I signed a petition supporting him and all his supporters should too http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/apmlpetition.
sad incident of hstry,i thnk it was due to misunderstanding on both parts,totally condemn
lal masjid operation vry sad trajedy in hstry
my message to all the peoples who have lost their nears and dears in lal masjid and jamia hofsa operation is
"islam zinda hota hai har karbla k bad"My Office was pretty close to the red mosque (blue area) during the whole ordeal.. The operation and the fiasco continued for 6 months .. 6 MONTHS... the army tried their best to bring out everyone that was willing to surrender .. Isn't it a shame that all that has been lost in the short memory span of this country.
Hasn't anyone noticed that Umme-Hassan is out again with armed guards (AK47's) and Burqa Clad women tearing off Posters etc. Why do they turn a blind eye to that.
Transparency is the order in a democracy! No one can escape the wrath of the God of the Universe if he or she was involved in violating the sanctity of his house, which Ibrahim(pbuh) was allowed to build for the first time at the cost of offering the most precious one as a sacrifice. Let Musharaf defend if it was carried out on his watch.
Rex Minor
We donot expect any fair deal from Pakistan Judiciary which is tainted by its decisions and support for terrorists.
very sad and tragic incident of lal masjid and jamia hafza,may ALLAH bless all with eternal peace to all martyrs
Great example of why Pakistan's judiciary isn't respected by the rest of the World. It's apparently OK to take over a Mosque - implement vigilante justice - kill Pakistani rangers - and even try and escape justice by dressing up like a women. Shame on you.
Just like how the Indian Army decimated the Golden Temple which forever crippled the Sikh militancy, similar aggressive action should've been taken against Lal Masjid. A fatwa should've been obtained declaring Lal Masjid to be a modern day Masjid e Zarar to silence the apologists and win support. Still time is not lost to carry out such a strike.
Down with Lal Masjid terrorists!
Good for Musharraf. All decent people are with him.
No use.
We have no trust in these judges anymore. Pretty much know they will try to implicate Musharraf and it will be another shameful act. The whole saga played in front of the media and we know no one is allowed to take law into their own hands which these mullahs did. But they were let off free by this judiciary so what can you expect now.
Utter Rubbish !