ISLAMABAD, Jan 20: Religious leaders on Saturday warned of street protests if the government did not stop the CDA from what they said razing of a mosque-cum-madressah on Rawal Road.

About 300 leading ulema and religious scholars gathered at the madressah to discuss the CDA notice of razing Ashraful Uloom.

Leading ulema representatives including secretary general Wafaqul Maddarissul Arabia Qazi Abdur Rashid, president ulema Ittehad Maulana Abdul Malik MNA, Qari Saeedur Rehman and Maulana Abdul Qudus, prayer leader of Ashraful Uloom attended the meeting.

Later on, they gave details of the meeting at a press conference. They said they would hold a protest demonstration on Wednesday to show their indignation over the government action against ulema and mosques.

They alleged that the Capital Development Authority first demolished Amir Hamza Mosque located on Rawal Dam Road. Now notice has been issued to them by the CDA that the Ashraful Uloom Mosque on the same road would be razed, they said.

Manager of the mosque, Maulana Abdul Qudus said that the plot for this mosque had been approved by the CDA. In 1985, Gen Ziaul Haq offered prayers in this mosque and on the occasion issued directives for the reconstruction of the mosque. The CDA itself, then, approved its plan and prepared its design.

He said that since then, no objectionable action has been reported from this mosque. No political or religious movement has ever come out of this mosque nor has there been any disturbance in VIP movements on this road, he added. There is nothing illegal about the mosque then what is the rationale behind removing it, he asked.

Maulana Abdul Qudus said that the Rawal Dam has been widened by 42-foot but still the mosque is 12-foot away from the main road.