ISLAMABAD, June 29: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Friday that an operation could be launched against the Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa brigade, but a raid would lead to heavy casualties on both sides because a large number of suicide bombers were inside the mosque and seminaries.

Responding to reporters’ questions at the concluding ceremony of the National Media Workshop at the National Defence University, President Musharraf said: “Can you guarantee that blood of any dead or injured will not be screened on television channels during the operation?”

He said that militants having links with Jaish-i-Muhammad and Al Qaeda were hiding in the mosque and seminaries and they had explosives. They might cause havoc in case of an armed operation, he said, adding: “Let it be clear that the action against the Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa brigade was not withheld because of government’s weakness or cowardice in the face of enemy.”

He warned that some foreign elements were busy in the tribal areas planning terrorist activities against some western countries which, if materialised, could entail “extremely dangerous consequences”.

“Critics should understand that the madressah houses 2,500 women students with minor boys and suicide bombers inside are equipped with sophisticated arms. While police are not capable of launching such a complex operation, the army cannot be involved for it can give a wrong message to the world,” the president said.

“We have involved senior clerics of the country, the Council of Islamic Ideology and the Imam-i-Kaaba to end the standoff. Shall we now call Allah to help these elements shun their wrongdoings?”

The president announced that he would address the nation next week and inform the people about some important national issues and the steps his government was planning to take to halt the spread of extremist tendencies in the NWFP. He said he would appear on the national television every fortnight to explain his viewpoint subject by subject.

He rejected opposition’ claim that fair and free elections were not possible under him and said: “It is not going to deter me from holding elections even if this element was not ready to contest the polls under my dispensation.”

About the army chief’s uniform, he said: “This issue certainly needs to be addressed but leave this decision to me.”

Asked if he wanted to remain in power on a permanent basis, he said: “No one is permanent nor will remain forever, but as long as I am at the helm I will continue to express whatever I see is good for the nation.”

In response to a question, he admitted that there had been a gap between the government and the media and said the media should promote national interests while reporting events.

He said nuclear and strategic interests, war on terror, extremism, militancy and Talibanisation, operations in the tribal areas and Balochistan and issues relating to inter-provincial harmony were the areas where the media should exercise restraint.

The president admitted that a large number of ministers lacked enthusiasm on a number of issues.

He was critical of the way media hype had been created after the March 9 decision of sending presidential reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

“I was pushed to make amendments to the Pemra ordinance as a result of this imbalance in coverage, but I did not mean to impose curbs on the independence of media. It has been left to the media to set limits under a code of conduct.”

Reiterating his government’s resolve to accept the Supreme Court’s verdict, the president said an action would be decided against elements which had decided not to accept a judgment if was against the reinstatement of the chief justice.