ISLAMABAD: The federal government has succumbed to the pressure of Jamiat Ulema Islam–Fazl (JUI-F) and agreed to restore the original status of the demolished Madni Masjid near Rawal Dam Chowk in Islamabad.

After lengthy negotiations extended over four days, the government finally agreed to rebuild Madni Masjid at the original site within four months, and the construction work will start after Friday prayers on Aug 22.

An agreement in this regard has been signed by the Islamabad administration and the Ulema Action Committee led by JUI-F Islamabad Amir Mufti Owais Aziz. On behalf of the Islamabad administration, the agreement was signed by Additional Deputy Commissioner General (ADCG) Sahibzada Muhammad Yousuf.

It has been agreed that the mosque will be reconstructed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and during the construction period, the state will make arrangements to facilitate five times prayers congregations at the mosque site.

Construction work will start after Friday prayers on 22nd

The agreement states that the notification regarding government’s plan to demolish 50 other mosques was fake and “the Islamabad administration has not issued any list in this regard.”

The agreement also states that in future the Islamabad administration will consult the Ulema Action Committee, if any matter regarding any mosque in Islamabad arises.

The agreement has come as a surprise as the government functionaries, including State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry had recently given a statement in the National Assembly, justifying the demolition of Madni Masjid and said it was done with the consent of the management of the mosque, and a seminary has been established at an alternative place at government’s expense.

A senior official of the Islamabad administration told Dawn that the mosque and the adjoining seminary had been relocated from Murree Road as the security apparatus had noted that they were located on the main VIP route and was a security risk.

The Madni Mosque and the seminary on Murree Road were demolished during the night of Aug 9-10, but it triggered a strong reaction from the clerics of the JUI-F, proscribed group Sipah Sahaba as well as Maulana Abdul Aziz of Lal Masjid.

A large number of clerics and workers of religious outfits had gathered at the site of the demolished mosque on Friday, not only to offer prayers but also brought bricks and construction blocks to erect walls of the mosque.

As a result, police personnel were deployed around the area, including the entrances of Margalla Town to prevent public gathering at the site.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of JUI-F Islamabad Mufti Abdullah issued the schedule of activities at the Madni Masjid site, calling for active participation by the faithful.

Mufti Abdullah called a meeting of clerics at Jamia Muhammadia in Islamabad’s F-6 Sector on Tuesday in which the participants decided to convene an Ulema convention at Jamia Islamia in Saddar, Rawalpindi, on Thursday (tomorrow).

Mufti Abdullah said that Friday prayers would be held at the site of the demolished mosque on Aug 22, and the construction work would commence after the prayers.

In a statement, he called upon the clerics, seminary students and the public at large to offer Friday prayers at the mosque site.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2025