Chapter 16

THE EMERGENCY MEETING

12th of Jumaada al-THanny 1417

(October 24, 1996)

Tariq worked in his second floor study in preparation for the emergency meeting of his twelve advisors. Mr. Pendi would be there. He saw an opportunity to be rid of two problems at once. As the meeting grew closer, Tariq muttered his prayers in the Kaa’bah and circled the House of Allah seven times. The arena had to be secured before Tariq could enter. He grew impatient. He over planned and over analyzed each circumstance until most uncertainties were taken into account. There was no more he could do. He sensed himself growing older. The bones felt weaker. They creaked each time he moved. But not a single snapping joint while praying.

The Custodian’s residence was not far. The bodyguards avoided the Kaa’bah crowd by traveling in between prayer times. The car stopped at a security checkpoint before entering the Custodian’s complex, a brown concrete mansion next to a five story high rise. The drivers for other advisors puffed on cigarettes and rehashed old stories in the next lot. Mecca served as their resting spot, their vacation while on duty.

At the entrance, Tariq confronted two military men with rifles flung over their shoulders. He passed without being questioned. The elevator doors opened to a large room with a long table. His twelve advisors, draped in white silk, stifled themselves and stood from their chairs. The tinted windows blocked the sun and kept the spacious room dark and cool. Pitchers of zum zum water were spread on the table. Tariq noticed the advisors’ aides seated along the perimeter of the room. They sorted through thick folders and remained poised for notetaking. Tariq smiled to bid them welcome. To his advisors, however, he remained solemn, and they were sucked in by his mood. To Tariq’s left sat a stenographer, a stenograph between his legs. To his right an empty chair reserved for his son who had attended a general meeting as a child, thrilling the assembly. To see the chubby future bavasaab became a rare occasion for them. They did not expect the chair to be filled at this meeting. The topic remained confidential.

Tariq stood at the head of the table. He missed not a single advisor. He saluted each of them with peace and permitted them to sit. The stenographer tapped soft keys. The meeting concerned the Hindu Muslim riots in India, particularly Bombay. One of the advisors began his report.

“As we already know, the violence began when Hindu militants, primarily from the Shiv Sena terrorist group, marched upon the Babri mosque at Ayodha and demolished it using domestic tools and arson. Our members within Bombay, in the spirit of defending Allah’s name, encouraged our fellow Muslims to retaliate knowing the Hindu government, under the authority of Prime Minister Rao, would remain indifferent if not content with the demolition. As a result of the first wave of violence, more than one hundred dead in Bombay alone and more than one thousand deaths all across India. Our Muslims were killed by the hands of Hindus. Thousands were injured, hundred of women raped, hundreds of our children molested. After the deaths and casualties of our Muslim brothers were accounted for, our beloved Syedna Tariq Bengaliwala arrived in Bombay for a short visit of strategic mosques. By this time the first wave of violence had ended. He sent word to Prime Minister Rao in Delhi strongly condemning him. Our holiness labeled his regime ‘a mockery of secular government.’ Rao requested a meeting with the bavasaab, but our holiness refused, as dealing with hypocrites and liars is the act of Iblis.

“The second wave of violence was instigated by the Shiv Sena, the terrorist Hindu group. By this time our Syedna was en route to Mecca. They used the murder of two Hindu dockworkers to launch a wave of organized attacks on Muslims throughout Bombay. Our intelligence reports that no Muslim is safe from the Hindu militants. Brothers are being bludgeoned, their properties burned and looted, their wives raped, their children beaten with pipes, chains, and sticks. Although police have ordered the residents to stay in their homes day and night, we have numerous, detailed reports that the police themselves are encouraging the attacks on Muslim families. Where they saw riots brewing, they turned a blind eye, and when they saw our stores being looted, they participated and abetted those who stole.

“The violence, the looting, and the fear continue in Bombay. It has not stopped, and to your holiness the Advisory Council proposes the following to combat the Hindu threat and provide encouragement for our Muslim brothers.

“First, we suggest a meeting of the Foreign Advisory Committee (FAC) consisting of delegates from Palestine, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Indonesia, Algeria, Turkey, Libya, and Tunisia. We suggest the Organization extend invitations to other Islamic republics. Through the FAC your holiness shall place international pressure on Rao’s aloof regime for the protection of Muslims. There is no telling when the riots will cease. We suggest you convene the FAC as soon as possible.

“Second, we suggest the assassination of Mr. Nasir Patel, political upstart and chief propagandist for the Hindu-nationalist newspaper The Blue Wrath. Our sources confirm that Mr. Patel is the force behind the Shiv Sena movement. Eliminating Mr. Patel would cut the escalation of Hindu attacks. If there were one man responsible for the actions of militant Hindus, it would be Nasir Patel.

“Third, we suggest the assassination of Mr. Rajiv Chandra, commissioner of the greater Bombay police force. Our sources report Mr. Chandra has removed police protection for Muslims at areas of greatest Hindu activity. Mr. Chandra has encouraged his police force to ignore Muslim pleas for help from the rioters. Eliminating Mr. Chandra would lead to a replacement who may protect our muslim brothers from further harm. Your negotiations with Rao through the FAC may ensure an acceptable replacement. Until then, the elimination of Mr. Chandra is crucial.

“Fourth, we suggest you press leaders of the Arab nations, especially the leaders of Bangladesh and Pakistan, to accommodate all Muslims who seek asylum. They have in the past. We believe this will make a strong statement to the international community that our unity is strong.

“With these four steps, your holiness, we may make a stand in this new cycle of violence. With your blessings we shall implement this plan.”

The advisor took his seat.

For five hours Tariq questioned his advisors. Tariq doubted the Rao administration would bend to the FAC. The assassinations would demonstrate to Hindus that the unity of Shia Islam would never tolerate such an assault on their own people. Tariq demanded more names.

One of the assistants stood from the edge of the room and handed a notebook to his advisor. Inside was a list of names. The Advisor of Executions distributed copies of the list. Rage made Tariq see red and blue, like staring into the center of the sun, a red and blue which turned black and blue, and then black like the soot from a cancerous lung. With a swift pound of his fist Tariq ordered their elimination. Fifty two Hindus. An execution order came attached. He signed it. The corpses were to be mutilated beyond recognition and hidden from the Hindu press. After each assassination, a letter would be sent to Rao’s office identifying the Hindus and naming a fictitious Islamic group.

The advisors believed Rao would recognize the new tide of Muslim retaliation in India and use federal power to protect Muslims. He would, therefore, prevent the riots from spinning out of control. Rao would certainly keep the Hindu deaths a secret to prevent such instability. A solid plan, thought Tariq. He knew Rao would suspect him for the assassinations. If Rao wanted to extend the rioting, a final fight, then he should accuse Tariq’s organization and gamble towards that end.

Tariq circled the table with his hands behind his back. He fired at his advisors, caught them in some fallacy, or shouted. After Tariq coiled the large table and was satisfied, he left all in abeyance. No whispering, no murmuring. He thought of the Imam and his plight. He thought it unnecessary to burden his advisors with this knowledge. He stared at his Advisor of Education and ruminated on Khozem. He wanted to call emergency meetings for every one of his hang ups. Suddenly the urge to lash out at these creatures so obsequious and familiar.

“Fine,” said Tariq. “We will implement this strategy towards India and the Hindus, but without the FAC. Rao’s government has thrown diplomacy to the dogs. It’s time they learn never to test our patience, our faith, and our aim to keep the unity, Sunni or Shia. It is the Organization’s responsibility to look out for our best interests. Let those Hindus eat the mud from where their idols were born. We should have taken India a very long time ago. A once clean India has turned to filth.

“As you know, The Imam must approve. I will take this plan to him. If he rejects it, we shall convene again at the appropriate time. But to move on, I must ask if any of you is familiar with a Mr. Iqbal Pendi. He is a member of the Organization, but I do not know in what capacity. I hear he is someone very close to me. I can’t recall ever meeting the man.”

Papers rustled behind him. The stenographer rose from his chair. Tariq fed him his hand for salaams and observed this dark man with thin lips, thin eyes, and thin build. A lanky animal. Pendi placed his hands at his sides and kept his eyes forward, avoiding eye contact.