Pesh imam goes to court over sealed mosque

KARACHI: The prayer leader has gone to court against the police’s decision to seal his mosque in Kharadar.

Amjad Islam Amjad, the pesh imam of Masjid-e-Ibrahim, submitted that on August 9, 2010, the SHO of Kharadar police station, came to the mosque and told them to close it. The mosque’s committee asked for a reason which was not given and neither were any written orders. The SHO verbally informed them that he had been directed by the TPO of Saddar to have it sealed because it was being used for terrorist activities and had links with al Qaeda.

The mosque’s lawyer said that the mosque was sealed without any plausible reason and the people of the area had since been facing problems offering their prayers. He contended that there was no legal provision to seal the mosque, which was also against the injunctions of the Quran. He requested the court to order the police to unseal it and ask the officials to explain themselves.

On Friday, the Sindh High Court asked the Additional Advocate General to file his comments by November 8. Additional AG Shafi Muhammad Memon requested time.

The division bench of Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Imam Bux Baloch granted him time and directed the town police officer of Saddar to appear at the next hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2010.