Musharraf responsible for Lal Masjid tragedy: Usmani

ISLAMABAD: Prominent religious scholar Mufti Rafi Usmani addressing the participants of the ‘Shuhada-e-Lal Masjid Conference’ Sunday held President Pervez Musharraf responsible for the Lal Masjid tragedy. “All matters were settled last year during the mosque standoff but several precious lives were lost because of President Musharraf,” Usmani said.He demanded investigation of the tragic incident, release of Maulana Abdul Aziz and reconstruction of Jamia Hafsa by the government. Maulana Abdur Rasheed Ghazi’s son Maulana Haroon Ghazi also addressed the conference. Earlier, other speakers demanded the government to probe into Lal Masjid operation, carried out by the past regime, besides rebuilding demolished Jamia Hafsa and Jamia Faridia.Conference participants also passed four resolutions unanimously which demanded immediate end of operation in tribal areas, rebuilding of seven mosques that were demolished last year by CDA in Islamabad, repelling the amendments made by previous assembly in Hudood Ordinance and government’s proposed step to transform the death penalties into life imprisonment.Strict security arrangements have been made in Islamabad in view of Conference.Barbed wire fences were stretched in and around roads leading to the Masjid whereas bomb disposable squad has also been called for.