KOHAT: The religious and social circles have expressed concern about the razing of a British-era mosque here by certain individuals and demanded action against them.

When contacted, district police officer Javed Iqbal told Dawn that some labourers came after midnight on Monday and razed the mosque. “When I demanded ownership documents from them they produced fake papers. According to my information the land is disputed.”

District Kahateeb Maulana Shafiullah said according to Shariah any religious place could not be used for commercial and residential purposes.

Former MNA Javed Ibraheem Paracha demanded strict action against the influential persons involved in razing of the mosque.

However, Ibrar Kohati, a local influential figure, said an agreement had been signed with a religious entity before razing of the mosque. He said a mosque would also be constructed on the site.

Abdul Hadi, a local, told Dawn that after he put the picture of the site on Facebook he received calls from three unknown people to remove it from the page.

DEATH ANNIVERSARY: The religious figures paid tributes to the services of famous religious personality Allama Shiekh Jawad Hussain on his 22nd death anniversary.

Speaking at a conference at Jamiat-ul-Askaria, which the religious scholar had founded in Kohat, on Tuesday, they said Allama Jawad Hussain remained in Kohat from 1948 to 1998 after establishing a seminary with the name of Jamia Babul Islam Mubarikpur, Azam Garh district, India.

They said the religious scholar spent the last 50 years of his life in character building of people from Bangash belt, Kurram, Orakzai, Hangu, Kohat and other areas.

The speakers said he played a key role in the independence movement for Pakistan from 1945 to 1947.

Being a prominent and famous religious figure of the subcontinent he was appointed Khateeb of then NWFP in 1936 after migrating from Rangoon.

ARMS SMUGGLER HELD: The Jarma police arrested an inter-district smuggler and seized weapons and ammunition from him, which he was carrying to southern KP from Darra Adamkhel tribal subdivision.

The smuggler was arrested during checking of vehicles at the Muslimabad checkpost on the Indus Highway.

Noor Nawaz hailing from Bannu was travelling in a passenger coach. Three pistols and 3,000 cartridges were found on him.

A case was registered against him.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2020