ISLAMABAD:
A parliamentary panel on interior and narcotics control on Thursday questioned the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) violation of rules in allowing construction of mosques on the basis of sects in the city.
“By doing so, is the government legalising sectarian divide that is leading to chaos and anarchy?” questioned Senator Pervaiz Rashid.
Replying to his question, the Islamabad Deputy Commissioner (DC) Amir Ali Ahmed said that the total number of mosques in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) is 800, while only 89 mosque are under the control of the ICT Auqaf Department. Out of these 89 mosques, 40 are controlled by the Barelvi school of thought, 44 by Deobandi, three by Ahle-Hadith and two by Shias.
The senator inquired about the management of mosques which are not under the control of the Auqaf Department, to which the DC said they are being run by area residents with the help of charity organisations and local committees.
When The Express Tribune contacted the DC for details on sectarian division of mosques, he said the process has been pursued since long and the land for mosques is allocated as per requests of residents of an area. “People approach the CDA and the administration has nothing to do with it,” he explained.
He also informed the committee that the outstanding electricity bills of the 89 mosques is Rs10 million, while the funds allocated in the 2012-13 budget is only Rs6.54 million. Similarly, the outstanding gas bills amount Rs6.5 million against an allocation of Rs3.7 million.
The panel’s chairman, Senator Talha Mehmood, directed the Islamabad chief commissioner to devise a policy against sectarian division of mosques. The latter assured to present it during the next meeting.
Moving towards housing schemes in E-11, Mehmood said a minimum of 400 kanals are required to initiate a housing scheme. “How has the CDA issued no objection certificates (NOC) and approved layout plans of housing schemes which don’t fulfil this requirement. One of the schemes has only 56 kanals,” he questioned.
He asked for the CDA chairman’s appearance in the next meeting to explain the mismanagement. The DC said there are a total of 49 housing societies, out of which two are farming societies. The CDA monitors and regulates the development activities of cooperative housing societies as per ICT Zoning Regulations 1992, he explained.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2012.
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