The police officer says that contrary to all TV reports there was no TTP commander hiding in the mosque. “There was a grenade attack outside a medical store in Orangi a couple of days back,” he told The Express Tribune. “I had information that a suspect involved in the incident may have been on the rooftop of the mosque.” Gujjar gathered his men and immediately went on a raid.
According to him, when the people saw the police force entering the mosque, supposedly with their boots on, they all began to gather outside. “And thanks to the electronic media our situation got worse because they said that we had no respect for mosques.” It didn’t help that the media said, completely out of the blue, that they were after a TTP commander.
When the crowd’s mood turned ugly outside, the SHO chose to stay inside the under-construction mosque. “My men were pushed and shoved, and one of our police mobile vans was even damaged,” he said.
Gujjar blames the Tayyaba mosque administrators for instigating people by saying that the respect of the place of worship had been compromised since they didn’t take off their shoes before entering for the raid. “We are Muslims too and know how to maintain the dignity of a mosque,” he shot back. His men went to the roof by the staircase which runs outside the prayer space.
“But all of this was blown out of proportion and the next thing I know, hundreds of people had gathered outside,” he said. A jaded Gujjar then chose to sit inside the mosque and wait until the tempers calmed down. As for the suspects, he said: “What arrests? All the suspects took advantage of the situation and escaped.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2011.
COMMENTS (7)
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Taleban commanders are still protected by the local Pashtoons in Kati Pahari area. We need full fledged Army action there or may be drones for precise bombings.
My sympathies for the policemen and SHO, even if the policemen had entered the praying area with boots on I believe there is nothing wrong. Men with suicide jackets are okay, but men with boots to protect are not okay. Every muslim knows the importance of a mosque, but it would be better if we do use our heads too
OMG! Will this lunacy never end. Pakistan, esp. Karachi is imploding yet people continue to play into the hands of these religious lunatics...Pick up the Qur'an and read it for yourself once in a while...then maybe you will understand what God really wants! Was it more important for these cops to take off their boots or for them to catch the terrorist/murderer who tried to kill innocent people outside a medical store before he does it again!!!!!
No but you see there were no weapons nor terrorists in any mosque ever. That is not a true Pakistani but a Jewish agent working with foreign hands on the instructions of the Freemasons talking.
Our people will believe literally ANYTHING so long as they don't have to blame themselves.
What about stockpiling weapons inside the mosque? Doesn't that destroy the sanctity of the mosque?
Ban all the TV channels who reported irresponsibly
How can anything be done in this silly country? Does your religion collapse because some police officers entered it in pursuit of a criminal with boots on? What's the greater good?