Pak Tribune : We will not allow our mosque to become Harbour of Terrorism: Musharraf

We will not allow our mosque to become Harbour of Terrorism: Musharraf

Pakistan News Service | Thursday July 12, 2007

ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf vowing to crack down on extremists and terrorists from every nook and corner of the country said that we will not allow our mosques to become harbour of terrorism.

In a televised address to the nation on Thursday, President said that “today is a day of sadness and introinspection. This day is not for celebrating as we took action against our own people, who had deterred from the true path and had adopted terrorism and we did not occupy any foreign territory”.

President said that no one has the right to take any one’s life. What sought of Islam was taught at Lal Masjid. Children were being imparted terrorist training.

He said Lal Masjid administration was involved in racketeering, kidnapping of innocent and damaging government installations.

President said the most shameful act committed by them was kidnapping of seven innocent Chinese citizens.

President said China had stood by us in all our time of needs and supported us through thick and thin.

President said that extremists had challenged the government writ, therefore the action against them was inevitable.

President said the government had adopted a strategy of patience and had acted intelligently and not impulsively to save maximum lives in the operation.

“Due to our strategy, 3300 women and children and male students had come out safely”, he said.

He also appreciated the efforts of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Abdur Sattar Edhi and other Ministers for trying to find a peaceful solution to this matter.

“We tried till our last moment that the extremists to lay down their arms and come out”, President said.

“We delayed military operation so that dialogue process could succeed but the talks failed due to Abdul Rashid Ghazi who demanded safe passage, amnesty for him and his associates and safe passage for foreign militants [holed] up inside the lal Masjid”, Musharraf stressed.

The president said that government could not take such dictation and we took action, it was not to kill people but to save them.

“We are not happy that they are dead, we tried everything but nothing worked and we had to bear this huge loss of lives,” president maintained.

Lauding rangers, police and Special Services Group for professionalism said that ten officers had embraced shahadat and 35 were injured.

He prayed for their souls and patience for their family.

He said that Pakistan has not gotten rid of extremists and terrorism forces but we would end all such forces from every nook and corner of the country adding that we will make new recruitment in law enforcement agencies to achieve our purpose.

He also appealed to the Ulema to teach children true meaning of Islam and remove hatred and violence from their minds.

He further apologised to the residents of G-6 for the curfew imposed and any inconvenience to them.