The government has justified the use of military force by pointing to the presence of more than 150 hostages inside the mosque. The radical leaders are not giving in and have announced their impending martyrdom.

Islamabad (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The Pakistani government ordered a military blitz at dawn against the Muslim radicals who for days had barricaded themselves inside the Lal Masjid, the “Red Mosque” of the capital. According to initial estimates, more than 40 militants have been killed in the attack together with three soldiers.

“It is a final push to clear the place of armed militants who are putting the safety of the capital in danger,” said military spokesman Maj Gen Waheed Arshad, adding: “The security forces now control 70% of the mosque complex, which includes a madrassa for female students of the Jamia Hafsa. There is still a significant area which has yet to be cleared. There is still resistance."

The troops attacked at 4am local time but they met “tough resistance”. The army justified the blitz by pointing to the presence of “more than 150 hostages, including women and children, held by force in the mosque.”

However, the leaders of the mosque, who have been conducting a “talibanization” campaign in Pakistan since January, have declared that they will not surrender. Abdul Rashid Ghazi, one of the spiritual leaders of the Lal Masjid, said in a television message: “The government is using full force. This is naked aggression. My martyrdom is certain now.”

• Pakistan
• freedom
• religious
• islam
• minorities
• ban
• jamia
• hafsa
• extremism
• talibanization