ISLAMABAD: In order to resolve land issues pertaining to mosques and religious seminaries, a 10-member committee, comprising religious leaders and city managers, has been constituted to decide the future allotment of land and other allied matters.

The decision was taken at a meeting held at the CDA headquarters with Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Mohammad Yousuf in the chair. State Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Mohammad Aminul Hasnat Shah, Mayor and CDA chief Sheikh Ansar Aziz, religious leaders and CDA officers attended the meeting.

The committee comprising scholars from different schools of thought and CDA member planning Asad Mehboob Kayani would be headed by deputy mayor Azam Khan.

The religious scholars asked the CDA not to demolish unauthorised mosques in the capital, and allocate plots of suitable sizes for mosques in future.

The construction of mosques on illegally occupied state land has been a common practice in the capital. According to a survey conducted in 2015 by the CDA, there were 492 unauthorised mosques within the limits of the civic agency. Of these, 233 mosques were established on the state land along seasonal streams, on the right of way of major roads, private land and CDA-acquired land. Besides, 45 unauthorised mosques were built on the greenbelts.

The CDA has also failed to properly allot plots for mosques in the undeveloped sectors. It could not take action against people who established mosques in such sectors. Recently, the residents of D-12 protested against this practice and said development in the sector was yet to be completed but unauthorised religious scholars had constructed mosques there.

As a result, the civic agency drafted a policy which is to be presented to the CDA board for approval.

However, sources said the religious scholars requested the CDA to listen to their views before formulating any policy. On this, the city managers called the meeting on Tuesday.

An official said during the meeting the representatives of the civic agency said in future the CDA would itself construct mosques in the new sectors.

The religious scholars informed the meeting about problems being faced by them for the development of mosques, said a statement issued by the religious affairs ministry.

Quoting the state minister for religious affairs, the statement said for the construction of mosques all legal requirements should be fulfilled.

The committee is tasked to point out the problems being faced by religious scholars while constructing mosques.

“We are also tasked to come up with tangible recommendations for better development and progress of the mosques,” said the CDA member planning, who is the member of the committee. He said based on their strength, the committee would recommend which school of thought would be allotted plots for the construction of mosques.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2017