Bakhtiar to Fight Islamic Radicals, 'No' to Asylum

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June 27, 2007
Bakhtiar to Fight Islamic Radicals,
'No' to Asylum

Islamabad
Refusing to take asylum abroad, Nilofar Bakhtiar, who had to quit as Pakistan's tourism minister for hugging her para-jumping instructor in France, has pledged to fight religious extremists who damaged her political career.

After the Pakistan Muslim League (Qaid) to which she belongs refused to come to her aid when she came under attack from Islamic radicals, Bakhtiar has turned to the judiciary and the civil society.

Alleging that radicals had taken control over her party, whose women's wing she headed until recently, Bakhtiar has met over 50 activists and urged the Supreme Court to take cognisance of the formation of a "state within the state".

The Nation newspaper quoted Bakhtiar as urging "the civil society and both the electronic and print media to help me in eradicating extremism from the heart of the capital".

Bakhtiar had to quit the cabinet after pictures of her hugging the French instructor created a furore among Islamic groups.

Mufti Yunus, a cleric at Islamabad's notorious Lal Masjid, issued a 'fatwa' against her, forcing her to leave the government. She is now seeking an apology from him.

"Now I will see them in the court," she said here menacingly.

The reference to the "state within the state" was linked to the increasingly aggressive activities of Lal Masjid, whose seminary students have abducted policemen and women they allege are amoral and have also committed violence against music stores.

The former minister did not name the three countries she said had offered her asylum. "I did not accept any of (the offers) because I want to serve the women of my country, no matter how much it costs me."

She said she was unhappy with the government and with PML(Q) but denied that was planning to join the Pakistan People's Party of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

IANS | June 27, 2007

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