Lal Masjid students said on Thursday their movement was peaceful and they did not believe in terrorism and political assassinations.| "No, no! Certainly not!" |
“Not even a single opponent of the movement (of Lal Masjid clerics to impose Sharia in the country) was physically attacked before or after the infamous operation against the mosque,” said Abu Hafs, a spokesman for Lal Masjid. He said an attack on a leader “as insignificant as Mohtarma (Benazir)” would be a sign of desperation, disorganisation and demoralisation of his organisation. “On the contrary, we are even more organised and disciplined than before the demolition of Jamia Hafsa. Our morale is high and we are hopeful about the supremacy of Sharia in our country,” he said.
Hafs said the Lal Masjid movement would gain nothing from attacking Ms Bhutto. “However, there are some hidden hands who might attack her and put the blame on us. The neo-fascist organisation, the MQM, might try to sabotage her rally,” he said.
He said the MQM was in the habit of wiping off political opponents. “The nation has not yet forgotten the Nishtar Park bloodbath,” Hafs said, speculating that the president could also try to cash in on an attack on Ms Bhutto. “He (the president) might have a justification to impose martial law and extend his rule for a few more years. After all Musharraf is fond of South American right wing military dictators,” he said. Maulana Muhammad Amir, the Lal Masjid deputy cleric and Ghazi Abdul Rashid’s nephew, was not available for comment.