July 26, 2003	Saturday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 25, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, July 25: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to launch a fresh operation against illegal mosques in Islamabad and sought approval of interior ministry for this purpose, a source told Dawn.

He said some 50 illegal mosques, constructed on the state land for more than two decades, were likely to be demolished during the operation.

The CDA chairman, Chaudhry Abdul Rauf, has sent a summery to the ministry of interior, seeking permission to demolish these mosques.

The source said these mosques were constructed without submission and approval of their site plans by the competent authority.

The operation was to be launched earlier, but it was postponed keeping in view the sanctity of holy month of Moharram.

Meanwhile, a senior official of the CDA municipal administration said the Auqaf Department had also been informed about the CDA’s plan regarding removal of these mosques.

The Auqaf Department, he said, would also assist the CDA during the operation.

Negotiations with the management committees of illegal mosques were in progress to settle the issue in a peaceful manner, he maintained.

In reply to a question, the official said some of the mosques had been constructed on state land as a result of which the size of roads and streets had squeezed. “In some cases more than 100 feet state land had been encroached,” he added.

He said the chief commissioner had also directed the CDA and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) to chalk out a joint plan to tackle the sensitive issue by providing alternate places for illegal mosques.

The official said there were 400 mosques and Madaris in the Capital. Some of them have been constructed on the roadsides, some on green belts while some have violated the building laws.

“In some cases, the CDA allowed only two rooms for mosques, but huge buildings have been constructed in some cases.” he said.

He said in most of the cases establishment of Madaris had not been allowed but almost every illegal mosque had a Madressah.

A source said some 12,000 to 15,000 students were studying and residing in these Madaris and in case of an action, they could create law and order situation.