Following information of possible suicide attacks, Rangers have been deployed on Special Task to improve the security situation here. The Rangers have assembled with barbed wire and weapons at the Aabpara Community Centre near the Lal Masjid. The madrassa’s chief Maulana Abdul Aziz has warned the government it should remove the rangers from around the Lal Masjid or the madrassa’s students were “prepared to retaliate”.
'No military operation planned against Lal Masjid'
 Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani has dismissed media reports that an operation was being launched against the Jamia Hafsa. Durrani, in response to a question during a press briefing at the Press Information Department, said he had discussed the matter with the interior secretary who had assured him that no operation was presently planned against the Lal Masjid. | City Magistrate Farasat Ali Khan said Rangers in Islamabad for security purposes were shifted to the community centre because of the monsoon season and he had personally informed the clerics about the purpose of the RangersÂ’ movement. The reports created a panic in the city, as the Lal Masjid administration issued statements that their students would strongly retaliate against any paramilitary operation. |
Private TV channels reported on Wednesday that Rangers had been deployed at the Aabpara community centre near the Lal Masjid to prepare for operations against the mosque and its madrassas. City Magistrate Farasat Ali Khan denied the reports, saying Rangers deputed in Islamabad for security purposes were shifted to the community centre because of the monsoon season and the Lal Masjid administration had been informed about the move. He said he had personally informed the clerics about the purpose of the RangersÂ’ movement. The reports created a panic in the city, as the Lal Masjid administration issued statements that their students would strongly retaliate against any paramilitary operation.
|