Militants still present in Lal Masjid complex started on
Thursday evening to use heavy artillery against Pakistani security
forces and posed great threat to residents in the neighborhood in
the capital, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP)
reported.
A rocket launcher was fired from Lal Masjid to the security
forces Thursday evening, APP quoted Spokesman of the Ministry of
Interior Brigd. (R) Javed Iqbal Cheema as saying.
Cheema also said that the Lal Masjid militants are in possession
of land mines.
Firing, heavy gunfire, blasts and heavy shelling continued the
whole night and came to a standstill at Lal Masjid on Friday
morning, according to a Pakistani newspaper The
News.
?
Briefing a news conference, Cheema asked Abdul Rasheed, deputy
chief of Lal Masjid, to release all children and female students
who had been kept as hostages in the mosque complex, according to
APP reports.
The safety and security of Rasheed will be assured if he
unconditionally surrender with other militants in the mosque,
Cheema said in a statement.
Religious students of Lal Masjid snatched arms and wireless sets
from the security forces in the capital, triggering cross
fires.
(Xinhua News Agency July 6, 2007)
