September 4, 2003	Thursday	Rajab 6, 1424

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RAWALPINDI, Sept 3: The district government on Wednesday announced that no mosque would be constructed in future without official permission.

Talking to this reporter, District Nazim Raja Tariq Kiani said no-objection certificate (NoC) from the district government had been made mandatory for construction of mosques.

The construction of mosques had so far remained unregulated and the district authorities did not have any exact data about the number of mosques in the area under their jurisdiction.

A Masjid committee has been constituted to issue NoCs.

The nine-member committee will be headed by the district Nazim. Other members will include the executive district officer (Finance and Planning), who will also be the secretary of the commission, the district coordination officer, executive district officer (revenue), district police chief, district officer (buildings), the Tehsil Nazim concerned, relevant Tehsil municipal officer and Tehsil officer (infrastructure).

Mr Kiani said the committee would review the applications on merit and issue the required NoC only if the mosque fulfilled the prescribed criteria and the needs of the community.

“The committee may take a time of two weeks to discreetly scrutinize each application,” he said.

The regulations set for the issuance of an NoC state that no mosque can be established close to the worship place of any other sect or religion already existing in the same locality.

“This could lead to tensions and possible confrontation as well,” the Nazim said.

There can be no two mosques in the same locality having identical names, the new rules state. Similarly, no new mosque can be constructed within 500 metres of another mosque.

About the construction of mosques close to the highways and major roads, the new policy states that a separate NoC will have to be obtained from the highway department.

Moreover, the application for any new mosque will have to be accompanied by clearance from the Special Branch and police station concerned.

The Nazim said the departments concerned had been directed to ensure that the design approved for the mosque was strictly adhered to and no encroachments were made.

The applications for the NoC can be submitted to the office of the EDO (Finance and Planning). A special proforma is being designed for the applicants in this regard.Meanwhile, the district government has stopped construction work at the site of a mosque located on the outskirts of the city till the issuance of the NoC.

“The new policy would come into immediate effect, a spokesman for the district government said. The new arrangements should not be viewed as restrictions rather the procedure for construction of new mosques has only been streamlined, he added.