…because I have just got off the phone from my family in Swat, in the North West Frontier of Pakistan where it seems that further disaster is looming.
In this terrible week for Muslims all over the world, whether here in the UK or in Iraq or now in Islamabad where shocking events at the Red Mosque are confusing and causing much concern, it appears that the Pakistani Army has moved in on the capital of Swat as such, a place called Mingora. They were responding to a “call for Jihad” from the key figure in all this fitnah, a person called the Mamderai Imam.
There has been tension for a while concerning this figure and his madrasah but things have escalated today with a bomb attack in the Kanju area just two hours ago which has left at least some passers-by injured and even unconfirmed fatalities as per the reports from Swat Hospital. Confusion is rife, with security agencies being blamed, but regardless of the culprits, the Army has now found excuse to move in and there is currently a tense stand-off between thousands of heavily-armed villagers and the Army this late evening in Pakistan.
Whatever the truth, I just hope that the rhetoric calms down and that Allah protects the Muslims on both sides from pulling the trigger first and allowing all hell to break loose. I know the Pathans and this has clearly turned into an issue of honour and respect as opposed to doing what is right for the Deen and this looks very, very bad wa Allahu Musta’an.
Update 5/7/07 7:55am: 5 confirmed dead, 8 injured
Britain to ban TSNM
5 killed in Swat attack
Update 5/7/07 10:20am: Alhamdulillah, someone’s prayers have been answered and both sides have stepped down, and the villagers have returned home for now although the Army have taken up camp throughout Swat. May Allah keep their minds cool and calm and establish peace in our lands.
