Pakistani Delegation Reaches Besieged Mosque for `Last' Talks

A delegation of Pakistani religious scholars started talks to end a standoff at Islamabad's besieged Red Mosque between security forces and militants who want to enforce Islamic law in the capital.

``This is our last effort to avoid bloodshed'' and to secure the release of women and children hostages, former Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, leading the delegation, told reporters today before leaving for the mosque.

The delegation stopped outside the mosque and established contact with deputy chief cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi via loudspeakers, GEO television channel reported. Ghazi refuses to come out of the mosque, while the delegation turned down his request to go inside, according to the broadcaster.

The siege has increased pressure on Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who has remained army chief since taking power in a 1999 coup. Delegates from 37 opposition parties yesterday demanded he resign. In March, Musharraf ousted Pakistan's top judge, sparking nationwide demonstrations. He has been criticized by Islamic parties for supporting the U.S.-led war on terrorism since 2001.

At least 24 people have died since July 3 in gun battles at the mosque in an escalation of a dispute with students that began in April. Religious Affairs Minister Muhammad Ijaz ul Haq yesterday said ``known terrorists who are wanted inside and outside the country'' are holding women and children hostage at the mosque, or Lal Masjid.

`Utmost Restraint'

Musharraf, who appointed Hussain to lead the talks with Ghazi, today urged the ``utmost restraint to save the lives of women and children,'' Information Secretary Anwar Mahmood said in a telephone interview.

Musharraf said two days ago that the students in the mosque must ``surrender or die.''

The government told Ghazi he must free all women and children and parents of students detained when they visited their children on the premises, Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani said yesterday. Ghazi must surrender unconditionally to security forces, he said.

Militants, who have exchanged gunfire with security forces in the past seven days, agreed to stop fighting to facilitate talks, Geo said.

A gunman killed during the siege was wanted in connection with a failed assassination attempt on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz when he was campaigning for a parliamentary seat in 2004, Haq said.

``These terrorists control the operation from inside the mosque,'' Haq said. ``Abdul Rashid Ghazi is no longer in control.''

Central Asia

Some of the gunmen come from nations in Central Asia, AAJ television network reported, citing unidentified government officials and without naming the countries.

A Pakistani army commando was shot dead by militants and three security personnel were wounded when they tried to breach the walls of a seminary adjacent to the mosque yesterday, the government said.

Justice Rana Bhagwandas, acting Chief Justice of Pakistan's Supreme Court, today formed a panel of two judges who will seek information from the government about the siege, according to a statement released by the country's highest appeal court.

The mosque's chief cleric, Maulana Muhammad Abdul Aziz, established a religious court at the mosque in April to try to bring Islamabad under Islamic law. Aziz, who is Ghazi's brother, was arrested when he tried to escape dressed as a woman last week. He was charged with murder and terrorism.

Resistance `Only Option'

``Resistance is the only option, as the government has closed the doors for negotiation,'' Ghazi said in an interview with AAJ television on July 6. ``Since we are only defending ourselves, we have enough ammunition. We prefer death to surrender.''

Students at the mosque last month took seven Chinese hostages from what they called a massage parlor and brothel in the vicinity. Police negotiated their release a day later.

Musharraf has stressed that Pakistan must follow a path of moderation. He has pledged to boost economic growth in the nation of 165 million people, the world's second-largest Muslim nation, in an effort to reduce the threat of terrorism and extremism.