Pakistani press laments mosque 'tragedy'

Pakistani security forces fought gun battles with Islamist students

Newspapers in Pakistan call for a swift end to the stand-off between students and security forces at a mosque in Islamabad, but differ on how to resolve the crisis.

An editorial in the English-language Daily Times attacks the authorities for waiting too long before acting against the Islamists in the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque). A commentary in the pro-Muslim League Nawa-i-Waqt however accuses the government of heavy-handedness.

One writer warns that the clashes could have dire consequences for the rest of Pakistan.

EDITORIAL IN DAILY TIMES

The government has allowed the sore to fester for this long, tucking tail in the face of excesses committed by the Lal Masjid cadres... The government has to now go in and finish the job... While it is important to keep the number of casualties down in such an operation, neither should the commanders shy from taking and inflicting casualties because the first priority is to ensure that the operation succeeds.

COMMENTARY IN NAWA-I-WAQT

Because our military-led democracy has a policy of solving every issue by the use of force, the nation has had to see this tragic day, when clashes and direct firing broke out between the students of Lal Masjid and government security forces in the federal capital Islamabad.

COMMENTARY IN AUSAF

We pray to Allah Almighty for a resolution, otherwise many more people could be killed. We also pray that by the time this paper reaches its readers, the situation will be improved without any further bloodshed.

COMMENTARY IN MASHRIQ

This is really a very sad and tragic incident which shames both Pakistan and Islam as a religion. On the issue of Jamia Hafsa [women's seminary, attached to Red Mosque] and Lal Masjid, even the religious parties have sided with the government... The administration of Jamia Hafsa and Lal Masjid are using their students as shields which is highly deplorable.

ISHTIAQ RAO IN PAKISTAN OBSERVER

The government has long been planning to dismantle the network of the Lal Masjid brigade, but always feared the bloodshed.

NAVEED MIRAJ IN THE STATESMAN

The situation arising out of Lal Masjid has the potential to push the country towards extraordinary measures... The real worry for the Musharraf administration is that the situation has the potential to spread through the country, as many religious seminaries sympathise with the tactics of the Lal Masjid.

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