ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Sunday had to abort an operation to demolish the wall around an amenity plot near Lal Masjid after resistance by its management.

However, the civic agency claimed that the wall would be razed on Monday morning.

During the Eidul Azha holidays, the management of Lal Masjid constructed the wall around the plot on which its women seminary, the Jamia Hafsa, stood before being demolished after the 2007 military operation.

It may be noted that in 1992 the Jamia Hafsa building was erected by encroaching on the 7,500 square yards (around 16 kanals) amenity plot designated for a women’s library, a social club, an authors’ corner and a gymnasium adjacent to the children’s library.

Jamia Hafsa and the children’s library were demolished after the 2007 military operation as the National Engineering Services of Pakistan (Nespak) declared them ‘unsafe’ because of the heavy damages sustained during the encounter between the troops and the militants holed up inside.

In 2011, the PPP-led government struck a deal with the Lal Masjid administration and allotted it 20 kanals of land at H-11 sector for the establishment of Jamia Hafsa there.

On Sunday, CDA officials along with the police reached the plot near the Lal Masjid and started demolishing the wall.

However, the management of the mosque along with some youngsters reached the spot and warned the CDA team to stop the demolition.

Liaquat Abbasi, the CDA director enforcement, while talking to Dawn said after the 2007 operation it was decided that the mosque management could use the plot for Friday and Eid prayers but without constructing any structure on it.

“The management of Lal Masjid followed the agreement for years but last week it started the construction of the wall.”

“We sought help from the Aabpara police and they assured us that in case of any unwanted situation the police would come to our assistance,” he said.

“While half of the wall was demolished, some people from Lal Masjid came out and put up resistance. To avoid any mishap, we stopped the operation and began negotiations with the management of the mosque,” Mr Abbasi said.

He claimed that the mosque management later allowed the enforcement team to demolish the entire wall.

“I cannot give an exact time of the operation but can assure you that the wall will be demolished by Monday morning,” he said.

Qasim Khan, the station house officer (SHO) Aabpara, said it was his responsibility not to allow any illegal activity within the limits of the police station so he had assured the CDA of full cooperation.

When contacted, Ehtesham Ahmed, the chairman of Lal Masjid Shuhada Foundation, said though the CDA had allotted 20 kanals to Maulana Abdul Aziz for the construction of Jamia Hafsa in H-11, there was a ruling of the Supreme Court (October 2007) that the seminary should be constructed on the same plot on which it stood prior to the 2007 operation.

“By constructing the wall, we have implemented the ruling of the apex court which otherwise was the responsibility of the CDA. In fact, the CDA has committed a contempt of court by demolishing the wall. We had already filed a writ with the Supreme Court in 2012 against the civic agency for the contempt of court and may file another writ,” he said.

Mr Ahmed added that the civic agency should not have any problem with the construction of the wall because it was necessary for the security of the worshipers.