Gaining prevalence: Armed activists take over mosque
Around 25 men of a banned outfit took control of Marlazo Jamia mosque near airport for 16 hours.
RAWALPINDI:
Armed activists of a banned outfit on Wednesday night took over the control of a jamia mosque in the area of Gulzar-e-Qaid, which falls in the jurisdiction of Airport Police.
The area residents and police said a row between two religious groups led to the forceful takeover of the Marlazo Jamia Masjid. Around 25 men, from Jamatud Dawa (a banned organisation) took over the mosque, police said.
(Read: The troublesome Lashkar)
A heavy police contingent supervised by SSP Operations Yasin Farooq held a 16-hour-long negotiations with the armed men in an attempt to get them to end the siege.
After successful negotiations, the armed men were allowed to cover their heads as they were escorted by the policemen to Airport Police Station. The mosque was opened for the public by Zuhr prayers and the local imam (prayer-leader) led the prayers.
Earlier, during the siege, protesters comprising people from the local neighbourhood, Jamat-e-Ehle Sunnat and other groups blocked the busy Airport Road for hours.
“The real issue is sectarian [in nature] as a retired army officer residing nearby the mosque was not happy with the practices carried out by a majority of the worshipers over there,” said Muhammad Ali, who lives near the mosque and was one of the people protesting against the police for failing to nab the armed men.
A senior police officer, on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the men are members of the banned outfit and took over the control of the mosque forcefully.
Though no injuries or firing incident was reported, the protesters stoned the residence of the retired army officer. However, nobody was willing to reveal the name of the officer.
The protesters allowed cars to pass on the Airport Road only after the situation was resolved.
SSP Yasin Farooq told media that they will conduct a thorough investigation of the matter and befitting legal action would be taken against the outlaws. Till the filing of this report, no criminal case was registered against the suspects.
Extremist elements in Rawalpindi have been getting braver. The incident has taken place six days after 60 masked men, reportedly seminary students, barged into a girls’ school and demanded that they conduct themselves modestly. The police failed to arrest the attackers, admitting later that they were told not to take any action.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2011.
Armed activists of a banned outfit on Wednesday night took over the control of a jamia mosque in the area of Gulzar-e-Qaid, which falls in the jurisdiction of Airport Police.
The area residents and police said a row between two religious groups led to the forceful takeover of the Marlazo Jamia Masjid. Around 25 men, from Jamatud Dawa (a banned organisation) took over the mosque, police said.
(Read: The troublesome Lashkar)
A heavy police contingent supervised by SSP Operations Yasin Farooq held a 16-hour-long negotiations with the armed men in an attempt to get them to end the siege.
After successful negotiations, the armed men were allowed to cover their heads as they were escorted by the policemen to Airport Police Station. The mosque was opened for the public by Zuhr prayers and the local imam (prayer-leader) led the prayers.
Earlier, during the siege, protesters comprising people from the local neighbourhood, Jamat-e-Ehle Sunnat and other groups blocked the busy Airport Road for hours.
“The real issue is sectarian [in nature] as a retired army officer residing nearby the mosque was not happy with the practices carried out by a majority of the worshipers over there,” said Muhammad Ali, who lives near the mosque and was one of the people protesting against the police for failing to nab the armed men.
A senior police officer, on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the men are members of the banned outfit and took over the control of the mosque forcefully.
Though no injuries or firing incident was reported, the protesters stoned the residence of the retired army officer. However, nobody was willing to reveal the name of the officer.
The protesters allowed cars to pass on the Airport Road only after the situation was resolved.
SSP Yasin Farooq told media that they will conduct a thorough investigation of the matter and befitting legal action would be taken against the outlaws. Till the filing of this report, no criminal case was registered against the suspects.
Extremist elements in Rawalpindi have been getting braver. The incident has taken place six days after 60 masked men, reportedly seminary students, barged into a girls’ school and demanded that they conduct themselves modestly. The police failed to arrest the attackers, admitting later that they were told not to take any action.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2011.