SHC seeks detailed reply in Turk Mosque case

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has sought a detailed reply on a petition against the construction of the Turk Mosque in Juna Market within 15 days.

A two-member bench, headed by Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi, heard the petition. Seeing the pictures of the mosque, the court was angered with the building administration. Justice Rizvi asked Why has the mosque been kept so dirty. "Lack of cleanliness is a desecration of the House of God. Is the mosque built for worship or to harass people?"

The mosque committee said the Turk Mosque was built 160 years ago. Meanwhile, the petitioner's counsel argued that some parts of the mosque were constructed illegally. "Is the mosque is registered with the Auqaf department?" the court inquired.

A member of the mosque committee replied that the mosque was registered with the Auqaf department. The court sought a detailed reply at the next hearing.

Meanwhile, the SHC also issued a written order, directing the Sindh Building Control Authority to demolish an illegally constructed five-storey building in MPR Colony and submit an implementation report in 45 days.

The SHC barred the provision of gas, water and electricity connections to the building. The court also restrained the sub-registrar from leasing the building.

The bench ordered sending copies of the judgment to K-Electric, Sui Southern Gas Company Limited and the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2022.