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Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (44274)	7/15/2003 6:48:14 PM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

President orders check on growth of capital madrassas * Move aimed at thwarting religious extremism and possible attack in Islamabad * CDA to take action against illegal mosques, guesthouses By Shaukat Piracha and Shahzad Raza ISLAMABAD: The President’s Secretariat has told the Prime Minister’s Secretariat to stop the unnecessary growth of mosques and madrassas in Islamabad, fearing religious extremism in the federal capital. Sources told Daily Times on Monday that the President’s Secretariat had written to the PM’s principal secretary, after law-enforcement agencies reported that some mosques were being turned into madrassas in the capital. According to the report, over 300 mosques in Islamabad had increased the threat of religious extremism “being a potent and motivated force” which needed to be countered. It added that Islamabad was more prone to religious extremism than other parts of Pakistan. “At present, a silent competition is in progress between Deobandis and Brelvis to increase the number of mosques. Their managements, instead of producing broad-minded and educated Muslims, are nurturing a rigid young breed who work as a tool for subversive elements to harm Pakistan,” the report said. According to the statistics, there are 90 Auqaf-run mosques in Islamabad: two belong to Ahle Hadith, 39 to Brelvis, 46 to Deobandis and three to Shias. There are 161 others for which the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has provided land. In addition, there are at least 40 ‘unauthorised’ mosques built by some members of the public, which are: Ahle Hadith (four), Brelvi (16), Deobandi (17), Shia (one) and disputed sects (two). The CDA provided around five acres of land to four major sects to build madrassas, besides the land for other madrassas. “According to a survey, there are about 75 madrassas in Islamabad at present,” the report said. According to the Capital master plan, sites for mosques in every sector and sub-sector were marked and mosques were built by the CDA. Later, various communities and some members of the public built mosques on the other approved sites as well. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is now looking to take fresh action against illegally constructed mosques and seminaries in the city, after the recent terrorist attacks in the country and the government’s intention to shut down banned religious organisations, sources told Daily Times. Sources said mosques and seminaries might also be searched by intelligence personnel for wanted men. They added guesthouses might face similar action. Sources said the CDA had already sent a summary to the Interior Ministry seeking approval for the demolition of illegally constructed mosques. Most of the mosques were built without proper building plans while some were constructed on state land. Sources said that in some cases more than 100 feet of state land has been encroached on by mosques. Some of these were built on roadsides, some on greenbelts and some violated the CDA’s building by-laws. The sources said that around 15,000 students were studying and living in the city’s seminaries. Some sources say there are 249 authorised mosques in Islamabad, of which 89 are registered with the Auqaf department and 160 are registered with the CDA. An important meeting was held at the CDA headquarters recently in which officials agreed to prepare recommendations for tighter security in the federal capital to the Interior Ministry. The meeting suggested a boundary wall around the diplomatic enclave, where most foreign missions are situated and diplomatic staff resides. The suggestion was presented last year also but it was not acted upon. Sources said the CDA would also make a case against 45 guesthouses that are using residential property for commercial ventures, which is a violation of CDA bylaws. Agencies have also declared the guesthouses in the capital city a security risk and asked the CDA to shift them from residential areas.