Lal Masjid

Islamabad8217;s Lal Masjid and the aftermath of the military action is all over the Urdu papers. Hyderabad8217;s daily Munsif, in its editorial of July 11...

Islamabad8217;s Lal Masjid and the aftermath of the military action is all over the Urdu papers. Hyderabad8217;s daily Munsif, in its editorial of July 11, has strongly criticised the followers of the clerics of the Lal Masjid who had laid siege to the mosque. The paper says, 8220;they openly portrayed a distorted picture of Allah8217;s religion and gave ghalat taleem wrong education to the innocent girls of Jamia Hafsa and polluted their minds. People come to the mosque to remember God, and not for learning how to use weapons and indulge in bloodshed.8221; The paper says this will have long-term political ramifications, and Pakistan 8220;cannot insulate itself from the consequences of this tragic episode.8221;

Another Hyderabad daily and mouthpiece of Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslemeen, Etamaad, too writes on the same day that 8220;the sentiments inside the Lal Masjid had nothing to do with the thoughts of the common ulema of Pakistan, and the mind of Taliban and Al-Qaeda is seen behind those sentiments8221;. It points out that the Ghazi brothers had indicated that 8220;they themselves were nothing, and these decisions were taken by some people who were above them, at a higher level.8221;

Lucknow-based Qaumi Khabrein in its editorial on July 12 praised the steps taken by President Musharraf, 8220;he has sent a positive message not only to the people of Pakistan but also to the world that he would not tolerate terrorism, and religious fanaticism.8221; National Herald8217;s Qaumi Awaz on July 14 says, 8220;it is America8217;s direct intervention that is keeping militancy alive in Pakistan.8221; It writes that 8220;so long as this interference continues in Pakistan8217;s internal affairs, the doubts and apprehensions about General Musharraf and his army8217;s intentions in the minds of Pakistani8217;s will keep on growing.8221;

Doctor Haneef

The detention in Australia of an Indian national, Mohammed Haneef, has received a lot of coverage. Delhi8217;s Hindustan Express calls it a violation of the UN Charter of Human Rights, which 8220;says that no relative of a criminal will be punished for his/her crimes8221; just because he is a relative. In an editorial on July 17 the paper has severely criticised the steps taken by the Australian minister of immigration in cancelling the visa of Mohammed Haneef and sending him to the detention centre despite his being granted bail by the Brisbane court. It goes on to mock Australia, 8220;it considers itself the greatest champion of human rights in the world.8221; The paper says Haneef8217;s detention is as absurd as 8220;arresting a shopkeeper from whom a killer buys a knife to kill someone.8221;

Qaumi Awaz on July 13 has defended Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying that he sympathised with Haneef8217;s relatives: 8220;the expression of human sympathy is insaan dosti humanism and not dahshatgardi terrorism.8221; The paper goes on to say, 8220;If one expresses sympathy for families whose children are militants, it is an expression of fine human feelings. Why does it bother Advani?8221;

Chandra Shekhar

Former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar8217;s passing away was the lead story for several Urdu papers. Kolkata and Delhi based Akhbaar-e-Mashriq on July 9 has run it as a lead with large photographs; Munsif on the same date writes, 8220;his long political life is full of many achievements. He played a leading role in promoting secularism and social thought. His death has created a void in Indian politics which won8217;t be filled for a very long time.8221; Delhi-based Jadeed Khabar in its editorial of July 10, entitled 8216;Alvida! Chandra Shekhar8217; writes, 8220;to the last day, Chandra Shekhar held on to the principles adopted by him when he entered political life.8221;

P.S.: Qaumi Awaz, July 15, has quoted The News of Pakistan which reported that the wife of Abdul Rashid Ghazi of Lal Masjid who was killed in the fighting in Lal Masjid gave birth to a baby boy the same day and time! of his death. Akhbar-e-Mashriq, July 16, contradicts this news, quoting a relative of Ghazi8217;s wife Humaira who said 8220;she was not pregnant and they were surprised at the news of her child.8221; Humaira, the paper goes on to say, 8220;is untraceable since July 28221;.