Abdul Rashid Ghazi, deputy chief cleric of Lal Masjid, was among dozens killed as Pakistan Army commandos stormed the mosque compound after a weeklong standoff with militant students. More than 50 militants and nine soldiers were killed in the 15-hour offensive, which kicked off shortly before dawn on Tuesday, said Major General Arshad Waheed, director general of ISPR, at a late night press briefing. He said 29 soldiers and many others were injured, but could not give exact figures. He did not say how many women and children were killed. Independent sources said the total death toll was likely to be much higher. Social worker Abdus Sattar Edhi told reporters that his charity had supplied 500 shrouds to the security forces.Shortly after night fell the gunfire died down, but GhaziÂ’s residence had still to be swept of possible resistance, and two explosions - possibly stun grenades - were heard after midnight, Reuters reported.
Gen Arshad told AFP that troops had secured 80 percent of the complex. He said the operation was taking so long because the militants were using women and children as human shields, they were well trained and heavily armed, and because of the complex layout of the 75-room compound, which had been extensively booby-trapped. “The operation is in its last stages. There are one or two areas to be cleared,” he said.
Security forces have besieged Lal Masjid in Operation Silence since July 3. The assault was approved after last ditch talks between a delegation of ministers and clerics led by PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain failed to negotiate a surrender with Ghazi.
Security forces began the offensive at around 4:30am in a hail of bullets, teargas shells and stun grenades. Blasts from inside the compound could be heard throughout the day. The Interior Ministry said Ghazi had holed up in a basement bunker along with 10 diehard supporters when Special Services Group commandos ambushed the place. Ghazi and his men died in the assault. GhaziÂ’s ailing mother was also killed.
According to initial reports, Ghazi was killed in an explosion but later reports suggested that he died of multiple bullet wounds. The ministry claimed he was given the option to surrender but his men did not let him do so. Surviving militants fought on after Ghazi was killed at the climax of the siege.
The security forces “rescued” Umme Hassan, the principal of Jamia Hafsa and wife of its chief cleric Abdul Aziz Ghazi, and her daughter along with some 25 female students. It was not clear how many more women and children were inside. The women were shifted to the Pakistan Sports Complex for debriefing. The forces also arrested more than 90 students, including hardcore militants.
President General Pervez Musharraf had reportedly directed the forces to capture Ghazi and his men alive so that they could be interrogated for their terror links and operations. He later praised the SSG commandoes for the ‘successful operation’.
The government decided not to lift the curfew in G-6 until the completion of the operation and after combing the area for explosives. Police sealed off the capital early on Tuesday morning and nobody was allowed to enter the city until 10am.