February 27, 2007	Tuesday	Safar 9, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 26: After a long confrontation between the local administration and Ulema over the demolition of Amir Hamza mosque, the cancellation of a plot of another mosque in sector I-8 is likely to emerge as a bone of contention between them, it is learnt.

President Alsafa Mosque committee Chaudhry Tariq Mahmood Bashir along with other members held a press conference on Monday, saying that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had cancelled the allotment of the plot provided to the mosque some five years ago.

However, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Chaudhry Mohammad Ali rejected the claim of the mosque committee and said the mosque had never been regularised by the CDA.

He said on the demand of the residents, the CDA had provided a plot measuring 20x40 feet to offer prayers and no construction was allowed on it. But the people temporarily built a shelter over the plot to save worshippers from rain and sunshine, he said.

He said a committee comprising Ulema and officials of the local administration would meet to amicably resolve the matter.

On the other hand, the mosque committee accused the government of hatching a conspiracy to demolish a large number of mosques and seminaries in order to carve out a booty from commercialising the plots. It called upon the interior ministry to investigate the matter.

The president of the committee said due to unavailability of a mosque in the area, the residents had been forced to offer prayers on footpaths and on the request of some notables, the CDA had approved the construction of a mosque at the corner of Street 52.