All seminaries and their residential blocks in Defence Housing Authority (DHA) are to be shut down, the housing authority told the court.
In view of the prevailing law and order situation, all mosques within the Defence Officers Housing Authority’s administrative jurisdictions have been directed to wind up their religious schools residential blocks accommodating seminary students. The decision was taken following the use of mosques for residential purposes in violation of the DHA’s building by-laws and a growing unease among the residents in the vicinity of worship places.
These details were shared by Lt. Col. (retd) Amjad Rasheed, the DHA secretary, before the Sindh High Court on Thursday. DHA had ordered a mosque, Jamia Ilmia, to shut down its seminary and residential blocks, after which the seminary’s principal, Syed Fayyaz Hussain Naqvi, took the housing authority to court.
Since 1985, the madressah has been educating students on holy Quran, Nazira, Tajweed, Qira’t and Tafseer among other basic Islamic education from matriculation up to Master’s level, he submitted.
Affiliated with the Wafaqul Madaris alShia, he continued, the Jamia Ilmia Trust has acquired prerequisite permissions from DHA to construct a mosque, seminary and hostel, as well as, the proposed Isna Ashri Complex.
Although there was no compliant against the seminary, the DHA was asking the management to close the seminary, Naqvi added.
The high court had earlier directed the DHA authorities to explain the allegations made in the petition. Filing his comments on Thursday, the DHA secretary claimed that they never gave permission for the construction of a seminary or a hostel, even though the Jamia Ilmia Trust was registered with the authority. The permission was granted by the cantonment board, he added. Rasheed said such notices were issued to all mosques within the DHA jurisdictions “without any discrimination”, making it clear that the mosques may only be used for prayers and teaching the Quran.
On November 11 last year, Rasheed had assured the citizens that action would be taken for the closure of hostels within a month but a lenient view was taken while dealing with the petitioner. “The DHA shall take all steps to ensure a peaceful atmosphere due to the prevailing [security] situation,” said Rasheed, appealing for a dismissal of the petition.
The judges put off the hearing to February 5, 2013, after the petitioner’s lawyer requested some time to review the secretary’s comments and file his replies.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 22nd, 2012.
COMMENTS (8)
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I hope they can stop shamyana dance parties esp one next to graveyards with same fervor.
And DHA landgrabs break no laws?
Excellent step, they should also close the private school. They too cause a lot of pain to the neighbors. Brilliant step.
DHA is right It shold be closed
The same should be done all over Karachi.
This is the problem with the country's administration, meaning no clear cut definition to manage and control religious and secular education. While the economic managers of political parties are busy in printing notes and seeing poverty increase, the mullahs seize the superb opportunity and start propagating their gun wielding brand of Islam. The impoverished get food and shelter and the mullahs get an army of fighters. A Masjid, at this time of our history must be used only for prayers and translation of the Holy Quran. Salams
DHA step is positive, having masjid for prayers is one thing n having madrases (den of some irresponsible lunatics) within DHA will be creating cancer within.