Topic: Pakistan's Musharraf Says Militancy Rising

Los Angeles Times
May 20, 2007
By Associated Press
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — President Pervez Musharraf acknowledged that Islamic militancy was increasing across Pakistan and said tough measures were needed to fight it.
"We need to strongly counter it," Musharraf said in an interview aired late Friday by the private Aaj television channel.
He did not elaborate on what measures might be taken.
Musharraf made his remarks after four plainclothes officers were captured while patrolling in the capital near the Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, which is known for launching its own anti-vice campaign.
Two officers were later released.
Abdul Rashid Ghazi, a cleric at the pro-Taliban mosque, said his students detained the officers because they were standing outside a seminary linked to the mosque despite an agreement with authorities that police would not be deployed there.
He said the officers were held in retaliation for the detentions of several students in the last two weeks.
Critics have accused Musharraf's government of appeasing the vigilantes despite concerns that pro-Taliban hard-liners are gaining sway in Pakistan.