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Curfew around Lal Masjid as operation approved

ISLAMABAD: The government decided late on Tuesday to launch an operation against Lal Masjid in Islamabad to enforce the writ of the state, after clashes between students of madrassas affiliated with the mosque and security forces claimed 12 lives. This decision was taken in a three-hour meeting chaired by President General Pervez Musharraf at his camp office in Rawalpindi, sources privy to the meeting told Daily Times. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Secretary General Mushahid Hussain, Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani and top security officials attended the meeting. It was decided that the Lal Masjid administration would be given a brief ultimatum to surrender and vacate the mosque and its allied madrassas. They would also be asked to hand over madrassa students accused of taking the law into their own hands and attacking law enforcement officials. If the demands are not met, security forces would start an operation, possibly amidst a curfew. Sources privy to the meeting said that Gen Musharraf was briefed on the ongoing clashes between madrassa students and law enforcement officials and expressed grave concern at the situation. He said he was resolved to ensure the writ of the state in the face of any challenge. “The government has decided to launch the operation. The army will be on standby and police and Rangers will conduct the operation,” a senior official told AFP. “They have forced it on us. The operation will be soon.” The official indicated the operation was unlikely to be an immediate raid on the compound and would probably start with the area around the mosque being sealed off. Utilities could then be cut to the site, the official said. staff report

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