Pak govt to move court against concessions to Lal Masjid

Islamabad, Oct 10 (UNI) The Pakistan government will file a review petition before the Supreme Court (SC), seeking withdrawal of concessions to the former radical clerics of Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) had allotted 205 square yards of land to the former Lal Masjid administration to construct Jamia Hafsa, which was destroyed in a military operation to flush out miitants from the radical mosque, Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier (retd) Javed Cheema said.

He alleged that the mosque administration had encroached upon some land, Daily Times reported.

He said the apex court would be requested to withdraw all concessions it had given to the former Lal Masjid clerics in its verdict last week.

Brig Cheema said the government would honour the court verdict to reconstruct Jamia Hafsa -- but for day-scholars only.

''The government cannot fully implement the SC orders to construct the madrasa with hostel in the prevailing circumstances,'' he said.

He termed the appointment of a cleric at the mosque ''just a temporary arrangement''. A permanent appointment would be made on the recommendations of the Auqaf Department, he added.

The mosque in the heart of Islamabad was reopened on October 3 after remaining closed for three months in the wake of the military operation that left more than 100 people dead.

Army commandos stormed the mosque and the Jamia Hafsa, its affiliated girls' seminary, on July 3 after the militants holed up inside the sprawling premises refused to surrender.

UNI