The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has allocated plots for six out of seven mosques that it demolished in January because they were built illegally and considered a security risk. The demolitions led to confrontation between the government and the clerics of Lal Masjid. The reconstruction of Masjid Ameer Hamza has already started at an alternate location in Sector F-10/3 while work on the remaining five mosques will begin after preparation of feasibility reports next month, sources told Daily Times on Tuesday. “The plan for reconstruction of the six mosques has been approved and survey for alternative places for them completed,” the sources added.
The CDAÂ’s road and anti-encroachment directorates had razed seven mosques - Masjid Ibn-e-Abbas, Orchard Road; Masjid Ameer Hamza, Murree Road; Masjid Umar Bin Abdul Aziz, Police Colony; Masjid Aamna, Shakarparian; Masjid Syedna Ali, Nai Kacherian; Masjid Umar, G-8 Markaz and Masjid Madni. The sources said the government would give alternative plots for Masjid Ibn-e-Abbas, Masjid Madani and Masjid Aamna at Murree Road, Margalla Town and Rawal Town. Masjid Ameer-e-Hamza would be shifted to Sector F-10/3 while a plot has also been reserved for a mosque at Expo Centre, Shakarparyan.
Acting CDA Chairman Kamran Ali Qureshi said the authority would follow the agreement reached between the government, the CDA, the Lal Masjid clerics and the Islamabad administration. “The reconstruction of the mosques will start soon,” he said. The sources said that PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had told Lal Masjid clerics that the government would accept their demands in phases.