Over 300 Lal Masjid students surrender, standoff continues

By Xinhua

Islamabad : Over 300 students Wednesday left the seminaries in the Pakistani capital to surrender before the authorities.


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The authorities have adopted a strategy to observe utmost restraint to avoid bloodshed, law enforcement officials told the private Geo TV.

The strategy has produced positive results and more than 100 female and 200 male students of the seminaries affiliated to the Lal Masjid have surrendered before the officials, they said.

Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf has announced payment of Pakistani Rs.5,000 as travel expenses to each student who will lay down arms.

The parents have been advised to reach a wagon stand near the mosque to take their children back home.

Early Wednesday, the Pakistani government decided to launch an operation and imposed curfew near the red mosque in the capital following Tuesday's bloodshed clashes between religious students and security forces.

Shoot order has been issued to those who come out armed from the mosque. The government has ordered the mosque leaders to surrender.

According to the private Geo TV, Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf said that the deaths in Lal Masjid incident were quite deplorable.

A high-level meeting chaired by Musharraf discussed all options including operation against the Lal Masjid management.

The meeting also reviewed the public reaction in connection with the operation of Lal Masjid.

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