15 May 2004	Saturday	24 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, May 14: It was for the first time in hundred years or so that the muezzins from minarets of the two mosques on the premises of Sindh Madressatul Islam could not summon the faithful for Friday prayers.

"It was perhaps for the first time in its history that prayers could not be offered in the mosques built in the 19th century," said a frequent visitor to the mosque.

A few people who went to the mosque to offer their prayers returned after seeing the closure notices.

Nineteen people have so far died in the Hyderi Mosque bomb blast that occurred on May 7. As many as 94 people were wounded in the blast.

On May 14, an ad was placed in a local Urdu daily announcing the commencement of prayyers by the mosque management However, the principal of Sindh Madressatul Islam, Mohammad Ali Shaikh, denied the existence of any such mosque management and said that both the mosques came under "our management and we have banned the entry of the outsiders in the premises for time being."

Hyderi Mosque was declared dangerous by the KBCA, he said adding that it will remain closed till KBCA's clearance.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Shia mosque was constructed in 1894 and the Sunni mosque was built in 1893.