A tense situation re-emerged in Islamabad on late Sunday after reports of possible operation against the Lal Masjid seminary students and issuance of clear-cut warning by the mosque administration to resort Jihad (holy war), if operation was conducted by the government to get released the two policemen held hostage earlier.
Besides brining over 10,000 extra personnel of law enforcement agencies from across the Punjab, a daylong meeting of senior officials of Islamabad Capital Territory administration held in the office of Superintendent Police Islamabad to chalk out the operation plan.
The much publicised but tense Lal Masjid was surrounded by the personnel of the law enforcement agencies from each side, but no operation was launched till filling of this report.
After announcing the Jihad against the government, the stick-wielding students took position on all the sides of the mosque to resist any action of the forces.
A senior official of Islamabad police told Business Recorder on the condition of anonymity that all the necessary requirements have been completed and operation could be conducted at any time to get released the two of the four police personnel and vacate the children library occupied by the girls students for the last four months.
The students of the Lal Masjid had held hostage four intelligence officials of the Islamabad police on Friday outside the mosque premise in a bid to get release their colleagues, who had been allegedly picked by the secret agencies earlier including a former ISI official Khalid Khwaja.
However, in a daylong negotiation between the two groups, Islamabad police succeeded to get released two of the four officials on Saturday after assuring them to fulfil their demands.
The situation became tense after preparation for action and reaction from both the sides to meet their respective demands on late Sunday.
All the entry and exit points of the city is being strictly checked and police erected barricades on all the roads leading to the Lal Masjid whereas surrounding markets were also closed well before the routine timings.
On one hand, law enforcement agencies had gathered a heavy contingence of paramilitary forces and Punjab police, and, on the other, the Lal Masjid brigade has also rebuilt its barracks at the roof of the mosque to retaliate in the same way.
According to intelligence sources the madrasseh students have also duck underground barracks to resist the possible operation. It is also reported that a number of nearby residents left the area to some safer places keeping in view the possible lethal operation.
Earlier at a press conference Maulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi, the Vice Administrator of Lal Masjid alleged the government for pushing the situation towards tension.
"We have handed over two of the four arrested personnel of the law enforcement agencies in a goodwill gesture but the administration is still reluctant to settle the issue amicably", he added.
Maulana Aziz reiterated that government has to release five seminary students including Khalid Khawaja a former ISI official and Human Rights activist in exchange of the remaining two police officials from the custody of the Lal Masjid administration.
In the late night it was also reported that law enforcement agencies have arrested more than 200 seminary students in different parts of the city.
Ghazi warned that there would be a strong reaction in the entire country, particularly, in the tribal areas if any strong action taken against the madrasseh students.
He said that they would not initiate, but they are ready to offer sacrifices of lives if the personnel of the law enforcement agencies tried to enter the mosque.
He ruled out presence of the activists of the defunct Jihaddi organisations in the mosque saying that all are the madrasseh students, who would protect their sisters living inside.
Lal Masjid administration also issued a press note here categorically stating that the students have vowed to make Jihad if operation was launched against them.
The statement also blamed the government for fulfilling its own demands without honouring the commitments made with the mosque administration regarding rebuilding any of the demolished mosques.
It further stated that government had been used to in settling the conflicts through forces from Waziristan to Balochistan and it also wants to repeat in Lal Masjid. They warned that there would be heavy casualties, which would be more harmful for the government.
"If government could not fulfil our constitutional and Shariah demands we will make Jihad against this tyranny", it added. Earlier, two brothers, who were recently released by the intelligence agencies said at a press conference that they were subjected to mentally and physically torture during the weeklong custody, who were picked on May 13 from Rawalpindi.
The two brothers, Hafiz Anwarul Haq and Israrul Haq belong to Abbotabad said they were abducted by the officials of secret agencies from Rawalpindi suspecting that they had any link with the Lal Masjid clerics.
They alleged the personnel of intelligence agencies that they were humiliated and subjected to torture. They further said that the officials also threatened that they and their family members would face dire consequences if they discussed the story with Maulana Abdul Aziz, the Vice Administrator of the Lal Masjid.
"We were shifted to unknown place and naked us while punishing" they charged the officials. Earlier, talking to reporters, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, Federal Minister for Interior said that Lal Masjid administration intentionally pushes the situation towards tension and warned that government would be compelled to take serious action if its writ was challenged.
Chairman National Crisis Management Cell Brig(retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema said that government has no immediate plan to launch any operation. However, he said that law enforcement agencies beefed up the area as precautionary measures. He sought release of the two policemen and vacation of the children library from the occupation of the girl students of Jamia Hafsa to settle the issue.
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