PESHAWAR: The project to remove all encroached shops and plazas around the historical Mohabat Khan mosque and reconstruction of Speen Jumaat have been put into cold-storage , inflicting substantial economic losses to the Aukaf Department. Official sources at Aukaf Department told APP on Tuesday that the project prepared by the KP government to restore the historical status of Mohabat Khan Mosque was facing unnecessary delay as the encroached shops and plazas were not yet removed. APP
He said the district administration Peshawar has been tasked to vacate all the encroached shops and shopping centres around the Mughal era mosque located near Ghanta Ghar Peshawar but yet to achieve the assigned targets.
The official said the district administration has yet to complete an investigation and compile a report about status of the newly constructed large shopping plaza near Mohabat Khan mosque to determine whether it was constructed on Aukaf land or otherwise.
The encroached shopping centres and plazas have made negative effects on the historical building of Mohabat Khan Mosque that once attracted a large number of visitors due to its unique architectural designs.
Likewise, the project of reconstruction of Speen Jumat mosque near Hayat Shaheed Teaching Hospital was also delayed as practical work was not started yet despite clear direction of Commissioner Peshawar.
It has been decided to first shift 600 students of adjacent religious seminary of the Speen Jumat mosque to a rented building before initiation of construction work. The delayed of these projects had caused over Rs40 losses during last 10 months to Aukaf Department, he claimed.
