Pakistan's Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao Thursday said Jamia Hafsa, a seminary affiliated to Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, had been used as an armored compound for terrorist activities.
The interior minister visited Lal Masjid mosque and Jamia Hafsa seminary compound Thursday, a day after a full-fledged military operation against the defiant armed personnel inside the complex ended Wednesday.
Pakistani military has confirmed security forces killed 73 armed personnel in the operation launched early Tuesday.
Ten soldiers died and 33 others were injured in the operation.
Sherpao Thursday said two suicide belts, landmines, and rocket propelled grenades were recovered from the mosque and seminary compound.
The government is considering to raze the Jamia Hafsa if the construction experts report that the building was badly damaged, according to the official.
Sherpao said Lal Masjid was not that much damaged and some of its parts will be repaired.
The interior minister assured that no operation will be carried out against any madrassa, or religious school, as these are part of Islamic history and heritage.
Every step will be taken according to law, he added.
Funeral of Maulana Abdul Rashid Ghazi, deputy chief of hard- line Lal Masjid, was held Thursday in his native town of Rojhan Mazari in eastern Pakistani province of Punjab.
Ghazi was shot dead inside the mosque by militants when he wanted to surrender on July 10 after security forces launched the operation against Lal Masjid the same day, according to officials.
The operation branded "Operation Silence" was launched early July 10 after a talk negotiated through religious scholars failed to convince the armed personnel to surrender.
Source: Xinhua
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