Musharraf has directed the channel not to repeat the telecast of the interview in which Aziz was "grilled" in the same burqa robes he wore while attempting to flee. The Pakistan President resented the airing of the humiliating interview while chairing a meeting attended among others by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, Interior Secretary Kamal Shah, National Security Council Secretary Tariq Aziz and senior civil and Army authorities, local daily The News reported on Friday.
It was observed that the interview had sent wrong signals across the country damaging the reputation the government had earned by showing extraordinary restraint in case of Lal Masjid, especially in delaying the launch of the commando action for the sake of safety and security of innocent people, the report said.
The interview had also apparently resulted in hardening the stand of Aziz's brother Abdul Rashid Ghazi who appeared hesitant to surrender fearing the same humiliating treatment, it said.
In the interview, Aziz said he tried to leave the premises of Lal Masjid in consultation with other colleagues, including his brother Ghazi and asked the militant students to surrender, saying they will not be able to resist the operation.
In the high-level security meeting, Musharraf has directed the security agencies to be patient in carrying out the operation at Lal Masjid and allow maximum time for the parents to safely take out their daughters from the Jamia Hafsa.
Meanwhile, parents of girl students stranded in the Jamia Hafsa had requested Musharraf to give time to their daughters to come out of the madrassa, saying they had no links with the administration, the newspaper said.
Musharraf expressed satisfaction that so far 1,200 students had surrendered and lauded the strategy adopted by the security forces.
He emphasised that time for talks has passed and now Ghazi would have to surrender, sources said. The meeting was informed that Ghazi with some women and children had taken refuge in an underground cellar in the girls madrasa Jamia Hafsa and is using them as human shields.
He has also reportedly offered to surrender on telephone calls to certain political leaders. Musharraf directed that the loss of lives should be minimised and the operation should be short, quick and all targets should be achieved.
He also directed that during the operation the mosque should be protected. The president said that some students who are surrendering are widows or orphans and all their education expenses would be bear by the government.
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