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| Pak govt agrees to rebuild demolished madarsa | | |
ISLAMABAD, FEB 13
Giving in to demands of hundreds of female seminary students who occupied a library here to protest the demolition of mosques, the Pakistan government has decided to rebuild a razed mosque and formed a committee of clerics to decide the fate of other unauthorised structures.
Dubbed by the Opposition as the "worst form of capitulation", Pakistan government began re-constructing a mosque demolished here few weeks ago. It also formed a committee comprising Islamic clerics to decide on notices of demolition served to 80 other "unauthorised mosques".
Hundreds of veil-clad girls from a local madarsa occupied a children's library in the city for 23 days to protest the demolition of a mosque and notices served to several others.
The students, some of them wielding weapons, opened the library today but still retained its "administrative control".
Deputy leader of the Lal Mosque Abdul Rashid Ghazi who headed the Jamia Amir Hamza madarsa for girls, a seminary attached to the mosque, said only persons holding membership cards would be permitted to enter the library.
The "concession" was made after Minister for Religious Affairs Izajul Haq led a group of clerics yesterday to the place of demolition and personally laid a foundation stone to rebuild Masjid Ameer Hamza.
There was no word yet when the girls would give up the administrative control of the mosque. Haq is the son of former military ruler Zia-ul Haq.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had also met a delegation of clerics to seek their intervention to end the occupation of the library.
A committee of Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao, local officials and clerics was set up to decide on the demolition of "unauthorised" structures built on government property, including the fate of 80 mosques to which the Capital Development Authority (CDA) issued notices.
Officials said a compromise has been reached to avert a standoff. The government earlier mobilised hundreds of male and female commandoes to storm the library but eventually gave up the idea fearing reprisals from Islamic parties and groups.
Some of the girls, who were seen carrying AK-47 rifles and sticks, celebrated the government's decision with distribution of sweets.
"This is the result of bravery shown by the girls," said Ume Hussain who was among the 7000 students of the madarsa that has 12 branches in the city.
The madarsa has been accused by moderates of preaching the extreme Deoband school of Islam.
The moderate opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has termed the government's "deal" as an "abject surrender to the militants."
Central PPP leader and former Interior Minister Major General (R) Naseerullah Babar said in a statement the government's backing down on the issue was the worst form of capitulation before lawlessness that promotes more of blackmail and more extremism.
He said it was a matter of national embarrassment that the regime capitulated just on the day when President Pervez Musharraf said at a meeting in the Joint Staff Headquarters that "no matter what it takes we will maintain the writ of the state."
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