ISLAMABAD: Mosque administrators, who were served notices by the capital administration to demolish the constructions, have called a meeting next week to discuss and plan their next steps.

Talking to Dawn, Qari Sajid, a Khateeb of a mosque on G-9 Service Roadsaid the meeting was scheduled on Aug 13 at Farooq-i-Azam Masjid in I-9 to discuss the issue and chalk out strategy in response to the notices issued to the mosques and imambargahs.

During the meeting it will also decide to file a joint petition against the notices in the court.

Administration of some worship places have already filed a petition in the Session and Civil Courts separately against the notices. In response the courts called the capital administration and inquired the matter, he added.

“We submitted all the relevant documents in the court, required for the worship places,” he said, adding in response the court issued stay orders against the notices of the capital administration.

He further said that the capital administration had issued the notices two months ago and sent them to police for further action. However, the police kept them secret and recently informed them about the notices, Qai Sajid added.

Some of the Khateebs of the worship places said that the worship places were constructed after following all the legal procedures, including NOCs and clearances from the relevant departments, including Capital Development Authority. Besides, some of the mosques, which received the notices are under the administration of Auqaf and CDA, they added.

Ashafq Ahmed, a Khateeb of a mosque at Aabpara, told Dawn that he did not receive any notice; however, he found the name of his mosque in the list, which were served with notices by the capital administration. So far no one contacted us, nor did we contact anyone over the matter, he added.

Some of the mosques and imambarghas have been built by departments themselves after approving maps, the Khateeb said.

“I also heard that notices were issued to a khateeb of a mosque on Murree Road near Rawal Dam and a religious seminary adjacent to it. The khateeb was asked to get his house adjacent to the mosque and the seminary vacated. A substitute place was given to them and asked them to shift there, he added.

The notice issued to the worship places said: “It has been brought to the attention that you have endangered, removed, destroyed, damaged and altered the landscape protected under Islamabad (Preservation of Landscape) Ordinance, 1966 by raising construction and building of a mosque. This act amounts to contravening the provisions of the Islamabad, (preservation of Landscape) Ordinance, 1966 punishable under Article 5 of the said Ordinance.

“Now therefore, you are called upon and hereby issued this notice to remove the said construction immediately, failing which strict action shall be taken under the relevant provisions of law against the person responsible.”

Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon was approached for his comments over the matter but he did not reply.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2025