A file photo of the Lal Masjid. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court ordered the registration of a case against former dictator Pervez Musharraf on the basis of a petition filed in court regarding the Lal Masjid Operation conducted in 2007, reported Express News on Friday.
The court entertained a plea filed by Haroon Rasheed, son of Ghazi Abdul Rashid, through his counsel Tariq Asad, against the murder of his father and grandmother during the Lal Masjid operation.
Justice Noorul Haq Qureshi asked for Haroon Rasheed's statement to be recorded by police officials.
Background
On July 3, 2007, Musharraf had ordered a military operation against the mosque for challenging the writ of the state.
The military besieged the mosque for 12 days before assaulting the compound, an attack in which hundreds of students were killed.
The former chief cleric of Lal Masjid was accused of using the mosque loudspeaker to instigate madrassa students to attack the Rangers who were deployed outside the mosque in order to prevent Aziz and his associates at Lal Masjid from continuing their campaign of public intimidation that they had been carrying out since January of that year.
The charges against Aziz also include kidnapping and abduction of Chinese massage therapists as well as hijacking a children’s library in June 2007 as part of his institution’s protest against the demolition of seven mosques in the federal capital.
Last year, an anti-terrorism court acquitted Aziz, and 16 other persons in a case on the killing of a Rangers official.
COMMENTS (23)
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It is the responsibility of Higher Command of the Armed Forces to provide legal protection to its officers and men when they are being used in operation. It is understood that constitutional protection is given in constitution which has been been ineffective due to supra constitutional orders of Courts. If the courts does not believe in Laws of the Land, then military must do some thing about it.
One of the few good things Musharraf did! Please spare Pakistan the humiliation of justifying terrorist activities in the country's capital.
Such petition was also registered earlier. Even after the Lal Masjid Commission report has been released by SC, the tamasha of courts continues .....
Thank you President Musharaf taking such bold steps to save citizens of Islamabad/Pakistan.
Taliban courts.....????
When Judges of the superior judiciary order to register case against any person, one can well imagine in advance the decision.
Hundreds? Didn't the Lal Masjid Commisiion say 103 or so were killed? Where did ET take the 'hundreds of students were killed' number? Shame on ET.
If judges continue to support terrorists then Pakistan shall forget peace in the country.
Why not registered same cases against, Rafi Usmani, Taqi Usmani, Fazula Rehman,Ch Shujat, all were present there, but not established negotiations among lal masjid people and govt, Why they not stand against the gate of lal Masjid, just to protect the lal masjid people They all should be investigated also.
The Commando, really did not have much choice ! He had to act, due to the abduction of nationals of Pakistan's "all weather friend" ! Who now have been converted to "sweeter than honey" friend, by the new PM ! Does anyone for second think that if that particular incident was to take place today, the present GOP will have any choice but to act and that also very fast ! No one can afford to upset this friend, nor will the friend tolerate any attacks on its Nationals in the Land of Pure ! In fact Pakistan should learn to conduct more of these offensives on the Madrassas and eliminate them, as it certainly will go long way towards solving some of Pakistan's current problems in relation to daily occurrences of carnage and mayhem on the streets of its cities and bazaars !
strong textWhat about the shaheed army officers ..?
Why isn't any action being taken against the mullahs who brought guns into the mosque and started this episode?
Yet another useless attempt
Shame on our judiciary system. In future if i wud b on an obvious appointment and if i had to do any op like this, i wud never step ahead cz i knw how our people are and what they do to the person who had done something good for the country
@Farhan: Army do not any control or capability dealing with Waziristan.Unfortunately our army is not powerful.
@haroon:
Perhaps the law to protect the citizens and foreigners from terrorists.
These judges will understand the consequences of their pro-extremist stance when these same extremists will enter their homes and enforce their will on the judges' person and family. They'll find out the consequences of their actions the hard way, just like our military.
Our judiciary is proviving moral support to terrorists by taking up such cases. A person who takes up arms against the state should have his right to legal recourse forfiet.
Then case should be registered against our serving army for fighting terrorists in Waziristan, Wana and other tribal areas. Shame on judiciary...
By what law has the President of Pakistan the right to decide who is challenging the writ of the government and against whom to start a deadly operation. Do we have any system in this country or were we dependent on one individual who was above any system or law.
Should it no be enough?