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Islamic centre to replace Jamia Hafsa
ISLAMABAD, July 25: The government has appointed Maulana Ashfaq as new
Khateeb of Lal Masjid, sources said on late Tuesday night. Maulana Ashfaque,
55, is presently khateeb of Bilal Masjid, which is located near Covered market
in the sector G-6. The new khateeb of the Lal Masjid has been appointed in basic
pay scale-12 and he would be given extra perks and privileges.
A senior
official of the local administration said the new Khateeb, belonging to Deobandi
school of thought, is a balanced man and free from any controversy.
He
said Maulana Ashfaq will lead Friday prayers in the mosque which will be opened
for prayers after remaining closed for over 20 days due to an operation against
militants which claimed 102 lives including security personnel.
Prime
Minister Shaukat Aziz is expected to visit Lal Masjid on Thursday to inspect the
renovation work of the mosque and formally announce the appointment of its new
khateeb.
The sources said that the prime minister will also announce
construction of an Islamic Centre at the site of Jamia Hafsa which is being
demolished, the sources said.
The centre would have a library, an
auditorium, a marriage hall and a mini sports gymnasium, the sources
said.
Meanwhile, interior ministry spokesman Brig Javed Iqbal Cheema said
Lal Masjid would be opened for prayers on July 27.
A foolproof security
plan has also been made for Friday prayers in the mosque.
It is pertinent
to mention here that the Muttahida Majlis-i- Amal (MMA) had warned to stage a
protest demonstration and rallies against the government if the mosque was not
opened for prayers by July 27.
He said, the renovation work of Lal Majid
was going on at a fast pace and it would be completed by Friday.
The
Capital Development Authority (CDA) which is renovating the mosque had painted
apple green colour on the interior walls of the main hall of the mosque while
the outer walls had been painted with binge colour.
The sources said
about 80 per cent building of Jamia Hafsa had been demolished and the government
had decided to bulldoze the Children's Library adjacent to the women seminary
which was illegally occupied by the students of the seminary on January 21, this
year.
The interior ministry spokesman said National Engineering Services
of Pakistan (NESPAK) had suggested that both Jamia Hafsa and the library
buildings had badly damaged in the military operation against militants
therefore they could not be used any more.
"We have no other option but
to demolish them," he said.
Online adds: A small residential unit would
be built at a cost of Rs4 million for the new khateeb and muazzeen within the
premises of Lal Masjid. Dawn
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| Education News | | Updated: 24 May, 2012 |
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