* 17 more surrender, two killed in crossfire as siege continues
* Ghazi, supporters sign wills
ISLAMABAD: Two heavy blasts and gunfire rocked the Lal Masjid on Friday evening, as a dense cloud of smoke rose over the building in the latest clashes. Abdul Rashid Ghazi, deputy prayer leader of Lal Masjid, and his supporters said that they would prefer death to arrest after the government called for an unconditional surrender.
Security forces fired several teargas shells at Lal Masjid that also troubled inhabitants of the areas around the mosque. There were unconfirmed reports of many casualties inside the mosque. The security forces continued their strong buildup, but exercised maximum restraint in launching the final assault despite capturing strategic positions on Thursday evening. The restraint is being exercised to secure the release of maximum students, especially females, to avoid massive causalities in case of an operation, authorities said.
Security forces kept announcing safe passage for surrendering students throughout the day and the number of students who have evacuated the mosque premises reached 1,221 795 male and 426 female students on Friday night. The officials put the number of those killed in the operation at 19 and the injured at 98.
Addressing reporters, Interior Secretary Kamal Shah repeated the governments demand that Ghazi and his companions surrender unconditionally. Shah requested religious parties to come forward and play role in resolving the standoff.
The security forces relaxed curfew for three hours between 12:30pm to 3:30pm in Sector G-6 so that the residents could purchase daily use items. Earlier in the day, Ghazi and his 400 followers wrote wills. Ghazis special assistant Abdul Qayyum told Daily Times on telephone that besides a collective will, all students had written individual wills which would be placed on the mosques rostrum. In the collective will the students have demanded burial inside the mosques courtyard if they are killed in the operation. Jamia Hafsa Principal Umme Hassan, wife of Maulana Abdul Aziz, claimed that more than 80 bodies 50 men and 30 women were lying in the compounds of the mosque and the madrassa.
Agencies add: Two students of Jamia Hafsa, who were surrendering to the authorities, were killed in crossfire between security forces and the madrassa militants. Also, 17 students including five females surrendered to security forces. Separately, a meeting chaired by Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao discussed law and order situation arising out of the Lal Masjid operation, Online reported. Fire broke out at Jamia Hafsa at around 1:30 am Saturday after a mortar shell was fired, Geo TV reported. |
Anti-terrorism Court Judge Sakhi Mohammad Kahoot on Saturday sent Lal Masjid chief cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz, along with his wife and two daughters, to jail on judicial remand in five cases. The same court accepted the bail application of Tayyeba Dua, daughter of Maulana Abdul Aziz, in the Chinese nationals abduction case. The district administration has declared Simli Dam rest house a sub-jail for the accused. Deputy Commissioner Chaudhry Mohammad Ali said Maulana Aziz and his family were being kept there for their safety.