ISLAMABAD, Aug 29: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Sunday demolished an unauthorized seminary established on Murree Road in Margalla Town, an official of the authority said.

The operation against the seminary, Jamia Akhtaria, was conducted under an ongoing anti-encroachment drive of the CDA. The CDA's member planning, Brig Nusratullah, and director anti-encroachment Sarwar Sindhu supervised the operation. Heavy contingent of police was also present on the occasion.

The CDA staff demolished four rooms of the seminary which was established by the management committee of a mosque located in the same locality of Margalla Town. The staff of the anti-encroachment directorate left one of the rooms of the seminary as it was allotted for the construction of a mosque, the director anti-encroachment said.

He said the drive against movable and immovable encroachments was under progress and seven kilometre long area on Lehtrar Road had been cleared. The official said the demolished building of the seminary was constructed some four months ago without the permission of the CDA.

He said some of the ulema and students of the seminary had offered resistance during the operation but the police force managed to tackle the situation. According to a report prepared by the law enforcement agencies, some 70 unauthorized mosques and seminaries had been established in the capital, a source in the interior ministry said.

The report has been sent to the interior ministry to seek the government's approval for the demolition of unauthorized mosques and seminaries. The source said the government was considering the modalities of conducting such an operation as it could create law and order situation.

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