Lal Masjid standoff: Over 600 students surrender (Lead: Lal Masjid-Update)

Over 600 female and male students of Lal Masjid surrendered before the Pakistani authorities today.

Islamabad, July 4 : Over 600 female and male students of Lal Masjid surrendered before the Pakistani authorities today.

The surrender took place even as the government has imposed a curfew and deployed the army around the masjid this morning. Shoot-at-sight orders were also issued.

On Tuesday, over 20 persons were killed and over 150 injured in a gun battle between security forces and mosque inhabitants.

Mian Aslam Bodla, a National Assembly member from Muttahida Majalis Amal (MMA) has been detained for disturbing the public order, The News reported.

Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah said all options are open to overcome the Lal Masjid situation. He was speaking to reporters after his return from India, where he had gone for Home Secretary-Level talks.

Tuesday's exchange of gunfire came four days after Musharraf had claimed that an operation could be launched against inhabitants of the mosque.

Musharraf had asked the media to guarantee that the blood of any dead or injured would not be screened on television channels during the operation.

He claimed that militants having links with the Jaish-e-Mohammad and the Al Qaeda were hiding inside the mosque and the seminary.

The female students of the Jamia Hafsa which adjoins the madrassa are said to be prepared for suicide attacks, and up to 500 children were being used as human shields to stop the government from contemplating any operation.

The Lal Masjid has been openly defying the government for months, resulting in a tense stand-off.

Recently, thousands of armed police had surrounded it after several policemen were taken hostage by the students of the madrassa, who demanded the release of at least 36 of their associates being held by the government.

This was followed by taking nine Chinese nationals hostage for allegedly running massage parlour.

Earlier, Lal Masjid clerics and students were at the forefront of a campaign to get women to wear veils, and closing shops promoting western attires and music.

ANI