Students raid Islamabad 'brothel'

[almaty 19]

The girls also demand that video owners close their stores

Dozens of young women from a religious school in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, have broken into an alleged brothel and kidnapped the owner.

The women, from the nearby Jamia Hafsa madrassa, burst in late on Tuesday, demanding the premises be shut down.

The women say they have a right to end immoral activity under Islamic law.

The BBC's Navdip Dhariwal in Islamabad says it is the first time such bold Taleban-style activity seen elsewhere in Pakistan has occurred in the city.

The Jamia Hafsa school has been at the centre of controversy in recent months.

In February, armed students prevented the authorities from demolishing an illegally constructed mosque and occupied a nearby children's library.

They have also demanded that local video owners close their stores.

'Not mistreated'

Correspondents say prostitution is widespread in Pakistan, even though it is illegal.

The women who led Tuesday night's raid near the city centre included teachers and students incensed, the school says, by reports the house was being used for immoral purposes.

They [police] have arrested our respected, veiled teachers for a corrupt woman

They were later joined by male colleagues from the men's section of the madrassa.

When the alleged brothel's owner refused to shut the building, the raiding party forcibly shut it themselves and took the woman, her daughter and daughter-in-law back to the madrassa where they are still being held.

Initially the police were reluctant to step in to rescue the woman, but later registered a case and arrested two female teachers of the school.

But students then kidnapped two policemen from a nearby patrol. They too are being held in the madrassa and were allowed to speak to reporters.

"They have not mistreated us, they have served us tea and allowed us to keep our mobile phones," one of them, constable Hamad Raza said, the AFP news agency reports.

"We are told that negotiations are under way and we hope the matter will be over soon," he said.

School officials also say that two other teachers have been missing since early on Wednesday morning and that they believe they were kidnapped by intelligence agencies.

Their whereabouts is unclear.

School raided

The Jamia Hafsa has long been a problem for the capital city administration and Pakistan's Pesident General Musharraf.

The Jamia Hafsa was accused of links to the 7/7 London bombings

It has often criticised his policies in the "war on terror" and called for Islamic law to be enforced in Pakistan.

The madrassa was among schools raided after the London bombings of July 2005 over alleged links with the bombers.

Madrassa officials deny any such links.

Our correspondent says it appears the administration is reluctant or helpless to take action against the school's teachers and students.

The incident comes amid concerns over the increasing "Talebanisation" of parts of Pakistan.

In Pakistan's tribal areas and in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), religious groups have sought to impose strict Islamic law on local people.

Across the tribal areas and in parts of NWFP, video and CD shops have been attacked and closed, barbers are banned from shaving beards and non-religious music and singing is prohibited.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

A sad say for perverts.

[almaty 19]

A sad say for perverts.

no doubt,.,, they have gone too far this time ....

seriously, sounds like parts of pakistan is starting to become more of a base for islamics and pushing the progressive muslims, in order to reinforce their views....

[cbd2cai 0]

Barbers can't shave beards????

No singing, no movies, no fun!!

I don't care so much about the brothel . . . , but I know how it is so important for you guys!!

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Here's a quiz where you can choose response (unfortunately, mutually exclusive):

When did Pakistan LAST actually follow the rule of law internally?

1. under Old Bhutto (1972-1977)
   
2. under Ayub (1957-1969)
   
3. under Liaqat Ali Khan (1947-1951--when he was bumped-off with connivance from military)
   
4. Never did
   

If you ask most Banglas, the answer would be c).

Edited March 28, 2007 by CherryXS

[almaty 19]

Here's a quiz where you can choose response (unfortunately, mutually exclusive):

When did Pakistan LAST actually follow the rule of law internally?

1. under Old Bhutto (1972-1977)
   
2. under Ayub (1957-1969)
   
3. under Liaqat Ali Khan (1947-1951--when he was bumped-off with connivance from military)
   
4. Never did
   

If you ask most Banglas, the answer would be c).

brother sriniv, i always respect your views..what is up with pakistan? has things always been so fragmented there? it seems like it like parts are like the wild west and run by local warlords or chopf##ks....and this is a country with nukes, who always periodically like to try and provoke India (or maybe, it is India doing the provoking)

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Basically, the fact that the "hate India, even at the expense of building our own nation" have generally been in power since 1951 (I can't say whether Iskander Mirza belonged to the "hate India" or "love Pakistan" group, but I'm willing to give "doubt benefit" and say the latter). Unfortunately, as hate is their raison-d'etre, it also turns internally--resulting in a Wild West atmosphere; contrary to your idea that the "Wild West" atmosphere prevails mainly in NWFP, it has been made to prevail in the entire (after Bangladesh separation) country since 1971 by the military (which was also the biggest contributor to the grievances of the "Easterners" in the first place--and which Musharraf belongs to).

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

brother sriniv, i always respect your views..what is up with pakistan? has things always been so fragmented there? it seems like it like parts are like the wild west and run by local warlords or chopf##ks....and this is a country with nukes, who always periodically like to try and provoke India (or maybe, it is India doing the provoking)

Dean,

A few points worth noting:

1. India is also just as fragmented as Pakistan is. India also has "wild west" areas run by local warlords and other assorted chopfukcs (Bihar and Chattisgarh come to mind). The difference? The 'wild west' regions of Pakistan are overrun by an ideology that presents a threat to the West. The wild west regions of India do not. The Indian government has the problem well-contained, if nowhere near subdued. The Pakistani regime can't claim the same, partly due to international meddling.

2. Who does the provoking? Both do.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Dean,

A few points worth noting:

1. India is also just as fragmented as Pakistan is. India also has "wild west" areas run by local warlords and other assorted chopfukcs (Bihar and Chattisgarh come to mind). The difference? The 'wild west' regions of Pakistan are overrun by an ideology that presents a threat to the West. The wild west regions of India do not. The Indian government has the problem well-contained, if nowhere near subdued. The Pakistani regime can't claim the same, partly due to international meddling.

India's Naxal problem also does have international meddling (notably from PRC, their main arms supplier). Difference is that Naxals have a local-only mentality (Biharis have a criminal bent, independent of Naxalism, which is also local-only mentality), where Pakistans militants have mentality of thinking themselves conquerors (especially of India) which is ANYTHING-BUT LOCAL-ONLY.

[almaty 19]

wow, thanks brother sriniv and brother arijit..i learn more from you two, than i learn in history in college.. as sadly, that part of the world is glossed over and deals with england colonialism and gandi...

Edited March 28, 2007 by almaty

[Mirorgate 0]

I'm all about them shutting the brothels down. I highly down that 100% of the women are there of free will and desire to be there. Which makes it an exploitation thing.