January 21, 2003	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 17, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 20: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Monday demolished an under-construction mosque that was reportedly being constructed on a piece of land allocated for a park at Sector F-11/2.

The operation as conducted by the staff of CDA enforcement directorate. An authority official said the mosque was being constructed without the CDA permission.

The enforcement directorate staff also demolished an under- construction house at plot No-306B in the same locality. The house was reportedly being constructed without the authority’s permission.

Earlier, the CDA had demolished 13 unauthorized mosques established at different sectors.

Sources said the action was taken during the course of a drive against unauthorized mosques and Madaris in the capital.

They said two mosques each were demolished at Sector G-8/2, Sector G-9/2 and Sector I-10/2. Similarly, one mosque each was removed from sectors H-8, I-10/4, I-8/3, I-10/3, F-11/1, F-11/2 and I-8/1.

The mosques were reportedly demolished by separate teams, comprising officials of the CDA, Islamabad Capital Territory Administration, the District Auqaf Department (DAD), magistrates and police.

Talking to Dawn, another CDA official said the management committees of some of the unauthorized mosques and Madaris had obtained stay orders from the local courts.

However, they failed to produce any solid proof and document before the courts to establish any legal grounds for setting up mosques and Madaris, he added.

The official said some 89 mosques were registered with DAD, while the number of mosques registered with the CDA is 160.