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| India-Pakistan |
| Lal Masjid issue resolved: Shujaat |
| 2007-04-22 |
| Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Pakistan Muslim League president, told a meeting chaired by President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Saturday that negotiations with the Lal Masjid administration have been successful, and the matter would be settled peacefully, Daily Times has learnt. “Our talks have been successful and only one issue remains to be resolved,” Shujaat told the meeting, referring to the occupation of a children’s library by students of the Jamia Hafsa madrassa. “The vacation of the children’s library is linked with the reconstruction of the demolished mosques and this issue will also be resolved,” he added. Shujaat said the Lal Masjid administration had agreed that no one except students would be allowed to stay inside the Jamia Hafsa and Jamia Fareedia madrassas. “The pickets established by the madrassa students have been removed and no unlicensed weapon will be allowed inside the madrassa,” he said, adding that the Lal Masjid administration had also agreed to remove all banners and stop making provocative speeches on loudspeakers. Shujaat said the Lal Masjid administration had also agreed that the madrassa students would not raid music and video shops. “No one will now threaten music and video shop owners,” he said, adding that the Lal Masjid administration agreed that if anyone ransacked private property or attacked any shop, he or she would be punished under the law. The meeting was also attended by Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, PML Secretary General Mushahid Hussain and top aides of the president. Online adds: Gen Musharraf directed Shujaat to continue the dialogue process so the issue is resolved peacefully. “We don’t want to use force as girl students are also studying there,” he said. Sources said that the activities of the suspended chief justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, also came under discussion, and the government decided to “adopt a new strategy in this regard”. They did not elaborate. The meeting decided that the reference against the CJP would not be withdrawn, as it was based on genuine complaints and met legal and constitutional requirements. The overall political situation was also discussed. Gen Musharraf stressed that no deal had been done or would be with the Pakistan People’s Party. |
| Posted by:Fred |