Over 20 killed, 100 injured in Lal mosque gun battle <br />
ISLAMABAD: Over 20 people including students of Lal mosque, four newsmen, a Rangers and a businessman were killed and over 100 others were injured as a result of Lal mosque gun battle, the media reports said.<br />
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The Lal mosque administration said that at least 15 righteous men of the mosque were killed whereas a businessman was killed in the firing at Abpara market.<br />
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The death toll is still feared to rise as the several people out of the injured were reportedly in critical condition. <br />
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The media men including a Bureau chief of a TV channel were injured, out of which another cameraman was reportedly in a critical condition.<br />
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The shootout erupted after six months of tension over the activities of the hardline Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, which has kidnapped several Chinese and Pakistani civilians as part of a freelance anti-vice campaign. <br />
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Students carrying Kalashnikovs and wearing gas masks took up positions behind sandbags and dirt bunkers chanting "Jihad! Jihad! (Holy war)", as police in riot vans fired volleys of tear gas.<br />
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As gunshots rang out, a loudspeaker announcement from the mosque urged "fedayeen" (suicide attackers) to prepare themselves. The mosque is near one of the capital's busiest shopping areas, which closed for the day. <br />
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The policemen and several burqa-clad female students from a seminary attached to the mosque who suffered bullet wounds, a senior official at Islamabad's Services Hospital said. <br />
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Most of the others had breathing problems from teargas, but one of the women was undergoing surgery to remove bullets in her back and hand, emergency ward doctor Sharif Astori said.<br />
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Deputy Commissioner ICT, Chaudhry Muhammad Ali confirmed death of one jawan of Rangers, Mubarak Hussain, who was hit in the chest by a bullet fired by the Jamia Hafsa Squad. <br />
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According to sources at Poly Clinic, three male students got injured in firing. They are Nasaruminullah, Nasir Ahmed and Abu Huraira. A female student Uzma Yusuf was also reportedly injured. <br />
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One police personnel Rab Nawaz suffered injuries in cross firing. <br />
One each from the students and Rangers side were shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), the hospital sources confirmed. <br />
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According to Poly Clinic sources, 41 fainted females have been admitted to hospital while three have been shifted to PIMS. <br />
<br />
Movement of the commuters on the adjacent roads was restricted and the adjacent busy Aabpara and Melody markets have been closed. <br />
<br />
The CDA and Edhi ambulances were present on the scene to shift injured or fainted to hospital for first aid. The mosque administration was seen shifting female students to the safer places. <br />
<br />
The office of Environment department was set on fire by the students of Lal mosque. <br />
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<br />
Now what is your opinion about the Lal Masjid clash and its aftermaths.
ISLAMABAD: Over 20 people including students of Lal mosque, four newsmen, a Rangers and a businessman were killed and over 100 others were injured as a result of Lal mosque gun battle, the media reports said.<br />
<br />
The Lal mosque administration said that at least 15 righteous men of the mosque were killed whereas a businessman was killed in the firing at Abpara market.<br />
<br />
The death toll is still feared to rise as the several people out of the injured were reportedly in critical condition. <br />
<br />
The media men including a Bureau chief of a TV channel were injured, out of which another cameraman was reportedly in a critical condition.<br />
<br />
The shootout erupted after six months of tension over the activities of the hardline Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, which has kidnapped several Chinese and Pakistani civilians as part of a freelance anti-vice campaign. <br />
<br />
Students carrying Kalashnikovs and wearing gas masks took up positions behind sandbags and dirt bunkers chanting "Jihad! Jihad! (Holy war)", as police in riot vans fired volleys of tear gas.<br />
<br />
As gunshots rang out, a loudspeaker announcement from the mosque urged "fedayeen" (suicide attackers) to prepare themselves. The mosque is near one of the capital's busiest shopping areas, which closed for the day. <br />
<br />
The policemen and several burqa-clad female students from a seminary attached to the mosque who suffered bullet wounds, a senior official at Islamabad's Services Hospital said. <br />
<br />
Most of the others had breathing problems from teargas, but one of the women was undergoing surgery to remove bullets in her back and hand, emergency ward doctor Sharif Astori said.<br />
<br />
Deputy Commissioner ICT, Chaudhry Muhammad Ali confirmed death of one jawan of Rangers, Mubarak Hussain, who was hit in the chest by a bullet fired by the Jamia Hafsa Squad. <br />
<br />
According to sources at Poly Clinic, three male students got injured in firing. They are Nasaruminullah, Nasir Ahmed and Abu Huraira. A female student Uzma Yusuf was also reportedly injured. <br />
<br />
One police personnel Rab Nawaz suffered injuries in cross firing. <br />
One each from the students and Rangers side were shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), the hospital sources confirmed. <br />
<br />
According to Poly Clinic sources, 41 fainted females have been admitted to hospital while three have been shifted to PIMS. <br />
<br />
Movement of the commuters on the adjacent roads was restricted and the adjacent busy Aabpara and Melody markets have been closed. <br />
<br />
The CDA and Edhi ambulances were present on the scene to shift injured or fainted to hospital for first aid. The mosque administration was seen shifting female students to the safer places. <br />
<br />
The office of Environment department was set on fire by the students of Lal mosque. <br />
<br />
<br />
Now what is your opinion about the Lal Masjid clash and its aftermaths.