THE state has two distinct ways of handling criticism. On the one hand, those who use peaceful means to critique the rulers face the full might of the state, are detained and find themselves navigating a web of litigation.

The PTM, Gwadar’s Haq Do Tehreek and some civil society activists are recent examples of this. On the other hand, gun-toting extremists who challenge the writ of the state, fire upon law enforcers and call upon terrorist groups to come to their aid are treated with kid gloves.

The ladies and gentlemen of Islamabad’s notorious Lal Masjid fit this description, and over the past few days, were doing what they do best: causing havoc in Islamabad and thumbing their noses at a feeble state machinery that is powerless to stop them.

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The latest episode involved Maulvi Abdul Aziz, the mosque’s chief cleric. He and his guards reportedly fired upon policemen after their vehicle was stopped for a weapons’ search. What followed was disturbingly familiar. The stick-wielding ‘students’ of Jamia Hafsa, a madressah attached to Lal Masjid, took to the streets and attacked law enforcers. Umme Hassan, Maulvi Aziz’s better half, urged the banned TTP to avenge the ‘slight’ to her husband.

Cases have been registered against the individuals involved, and it will be interesting to see if the government has the courage to proceed against those who violently trampled on its writ. This is not the first time the Lal Masjid brigade has been involved in such transgressions.

Even after the 2007 fiasco, their activities have included encroachment and rioting, as well as expressing open admiration and support for bloodthirsty terrorist groups.

This past April, the high and mighty of this land convened under the umbrella of the National Security Committee vowing to rid the country of terrorism. It would be fair to ask if these worthies consider the antics of the Lal Masjid crew as aiding and abetting terrorism.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2023