Pakistan-Conference
Thousands of students from religious seminaries gathered in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Sunday to mark the last year military operation against the students of Red Mosque, which had killed nearly 90 students and 10 soldiers.
Deputy 'imam' of the mosque Abdul Rashid Ghazi and his mother were also killed as Pakistan's security forces stormed the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) on July 9 to flush out students barricaded within the complex.
Days before the operation was launched, President Pervez Musharraf had warned that the army would be ruthless. He had asked the students to come out and surrender and if they don't, they will be killed.
Thousands of students are chanting slogans against President Musharraf and are praising the students who were killed in the operation. They are listening to the speeches of religious leaders on the main road outside the mosque under tight security.
There are around 10,000 students attending the conference from across the country. The government has deployed some 4000 police force around the mosque to maintain security. Religious students are also performing duties and are conducting body sear of all entering the conference venue.
Walk through gates have been placed and the people are to pass through. Roads around the mosque are blocked for traffic.
Religious leaders in speeches condemned the operation and held President Musharraf responsible for the killing of the students. They said the operation was launched at the behest of the Americans.
They recalled that slain deputy imam Abdul Rashid Ghazi had agreed on a deal with the government's negotiating team but the President rejected the agreement and started operation against the mosque.
The security forces had blown up the whole building of seminary for girls "Jamia Hafsa", where around 4000 female students were getting religious education.
The forces had shut down a male 'madrassa' 'Jamia Fareedia' which had affiliation with the Red Mosque.
Imam of the Mosque Maulana Abdul Aziz was arrested during the operation who is still in detention at a government rest house in Islamabad.
