RAWALPINDI: Reconstruction of the Taleemul Quran mosque-madressah-market complex has begun, but the sectarian fire that consumed the complex and five imambargahs in the city’s old quarters last year continues to sear hearts.
“This reflects great discrimination and injustice to us. We are being treated like a step child,” said Imdad Shah, the custodian of Imambargah Hifazat Ali, referring to the rebuilding of the complex by the Punjab government at a cost of Rs340 million.
“We have yet to see a penny of the Rs30 million that the Punjab government had promised us against our estimate of Rs85 million for restoring our damaged imambargahs,” he added.
Worst sectarian violence had engulfed the garrison city on Ashura day last year, razing the Taleemul Quran madressah and mosque, and the 100-shop Madina Market they sat upon, to the ground in Raja Bazaar while five imambargahs around were damaged by rioters.
Vigorous efforts followed to rebuild the madressah-mosque-market complex belonging to the majority sect. But the minority sect felt neglected, more so when the provincial authorities set aside the objections of the Evacuee Trust Property Board that the Taleemul Quran complex stood on disputed land and went ahead with its reconstruction plan.
When contacted, District Coordination Officer Sajid Zafar Dall said that the assessment of the damage to the five imambargahs had been sent to the Punjab government.
“We expect the government will soon release money for the repairs. According to the initial assessment, Rs30 million will be spent on the reconstruction work at these imambargahs,” he told Dawn, promising early start of the work.
Asked about the complaint of the custodians of the imambargahs that they are made to run between the offices of the Rawal Town Municipal Administration and the DCO to get their rebuilding plans approved, the official said the administration of one of the five imambargahs wanted to expand its building.
“We told them that the government would allow just reconstruction, not expansion of the present structure.”
That, the imambargah custodians say, contrasts the way the authorities facilitated the wishes of the Taleemul Quran administration and the traders of the Madina Market.
They not only over-ruled the reservations of the Evacuee Trust Property Board but also helped the Taleemul Quran administration get additional land from the Evacuee Board and private parties to expand its structure.
“They are facilitating one sect and ignoring the other. It is not fair. The (provincial) government should improve their attitude towards us,” said Iqrar Shah, the custodian of Imambargah Hifazat Ali.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) City President Sardar Naseem favours the reconstruction of imambargahs.
He said the provincial government should provide the funds it had announced for the imambargahs and formed a committee, comprising former MPA Ziaullah Shah and the assistant commissioner city to assess the damage to the imambargahs.
“We will bring the matter to the notice of the provincial government so that the reconstruction work will be started soon,” he said.