Lal Masjid operation: SC constitutes judicial commission
Senior judge of federal Shariat Court Shahzad will be heading the commission.
Earlier in September this year, an anti-terrorism court acquitted the former chief cleric of Lal Masjid, Maulana Abdul Aziz, and 16 other persons in a case on the killing of a Rangers official.
Background
On July 3, 2007, former president Pervez 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.
COMMENTS (24)
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@Uza Syed:
"The whole sordid affair concerning that ‘den of terror’ called “Lal Masjid” should have been demolished right then when it was first established what kind of place that was. Such places hiding terrorist and storing weapons to be used against the state should have been raised to ground with mightiest power and resolve of the authorities, too much time was given and the mullah media was allowed to provide them propaganda and paint a place of terror as mosque and the terrrorists were called students. There were none who could be called students no matter how much one stretches his imagination, they were terrrorists and trainee terrrorists who challenged us, and our government did what it should have done and must do it again if circumstances so demand. Courts should do better things than glorifying terrorism and making the mutineers and anti people forces some kind of martyrs and heroes."
Fully agree.
@nahmed: Get your facts right, more than 300 hundred young children including girls died in that operation. Go to site of Lal Masjid, you will find parents still searching for their beloved children, if cant go there, check out dump site near Jinnah Stadium, I am sure you will find remains (bones) of a few dead bodies of children.
Lal Masjid Operation was a worst example of a Tyrant using unncessary force to kill 15/20 armed men and 500 children.
@Butt, follow the link and you will get the details of the operation....
http://www.express.com.pk/epaper/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=1101687291&Issue=NP_LHE&Date=20121205
@ahmad:
war criminal? how so? hahaha...i wasnt aware he had commited war crimes? such nonsense its ludicrous.
@Rex Minor:
Have you ever heard of Masjid Zarar? if the masjid is used for spreading mischief and terrorism (and thats exactly what lal masjid did and does) then sure the action was justified. Terroristis hiding inside the compound took up arm first and had to be and should be crushed.
CJP will do everything to Talibanize paksitan. Did he every convicted a single Taliban? It not be legitimate to ask CJP is he is a Taliban? It is time for the CJP to go.
After acquitting all the terrorists and directing the government to pay compensation to the unholy warriors of Lal Masjid, the timings and purpose of this commission is very intriguing. The decision of the court to pay compensation to the court is disrespect to the blood of shaheeds of Armed Forces of Pakistan who laid their lives to clean up the mosque from its abusers.
Let me state again that the desecration of the house of God is blasphamy. The one who ordered it and those who followed the orders voluntarily departed from the fauth of Ibrahim. They stand cursed by the God of Ibrahim for eternity. Let them go on trial so that their children and the children of their children remember them in history:
Rex Minor
The Lal MAsjid operation was very similar to India's Operation Blue Star. Indian courts however did not support terrorists.
Still those who are talking that relations improving and back on track are telling lie and the bluff is on,there all other departments are doing their job of provoking and they ll not stop I don't when Zardari,Hina and Kayani would understand.There some set up is working in CJP Secretariat too.
This is untrue to say that lal masjid was centre of jehad.coz there were no any arms or amonition carried by students of madrasa.can some one hav any evidence regarding this.i thnk it is just a propaganda.i am of the view that no one should be let to make a state with in a state.another question.why bush congratulates musharraf on this operation on his next day follwing the day of lal operation.does this operation was USA CONSPIRACY TO LIMIT THE RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES IN FEDERAL CAPITAL.WAITNG FOR YOUR ANSWER DEAR FELLAS
Religious extremist using a Mosque as Jihad Central - sending students out to institute "justice" as they see fit - and when you finally do something about it your judicial system come to the rescue of the fanatics. Classic Pakistan.
The whole sordid affair concerning that 'den of terror' called "Lal Masjid" should have been demolished right then when it was first established what kind of place that was. Such places hiding terrorist and storing weapons to be used against the state should have been raised to ground with mightiest power and resolve of the authorities, too much time was given and the mullah media was allowed to provide them propaganda and paint a place of terror as mosque and the terrrorists were called students. There were none who could be called students no matter how much one stretches his imagination, they were terrrorists and trainee terrrorists who challenged us, and our government did what it should have done and must do it again if circumstances so demand. Courts should do better things than glorifying terrorism and making the mutineers and anti people forces some kind of martyrs and heroes.
Don't like Musharraf at all, but this operation was justified, too bad that the coward who first instigated violence and then leave behind his followers and ran in burqa is aquitted.
Ex President Musharaf is a war criminal and should be tried, convicted, and hanged.
Encourage all criminals elements by such actions and then ask army to clear them. Shame.
Only a few students were killed that too due to their own belligerent attitude. These Moulanas are criminals and are involved in terrorist activities. Religion is their business. Now they have sold themselves to Chairman Bahria Town for getting plots from him. Recently the Imam of Lal Masjid held a Press Conference against the Chief Justice Of Pakistan at the behest of Malik Riaz. Shame on these Mullahs who are on sale for worldly gains.
hahahaha and If that operation wasn't held at all, some TTP leader would have been leading the country and even Google would have been blocked for blasphemy thing as they are not "removing" pages from its search engine. You live one way or other but CJ really wants to get his hands on Mush's neck. Nice try
amazed how suddenly all those who were praising the lal masjid are now silent!! at that time when it happened it was hailed by all, media everyone !! suddenly some years later the lal masjid is made in to something great
Dear ET you are gone too low. Can you provide name of a single student who was killed during Lal Masjid operation?
This seems like revenge. Nice way to get Musharraf.
This was the worst event created by the terrorists. If this operation was not held, Islamabad would have fallen to the terrorists much earlier. Thanks to the brave solders of Pakistan who did it without harming a single girl or boy. There should be no compromise on the security of our beloved country.