ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday condemned what it described as the “systematic” and “state-sanctioned” demolition of Muslim places of worship and other Islamic religious sites in India, urging the international community to take notice of the continued persecution of Muslims.
Responding to a question at a weekly press briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said Pakistan “expresses deep concern and condemns the systematic state-sanctioned demolition of Islamic holy places in India under different pretexts”.
He said such demolitions were in violation of the Liaquat-Nehru Pact, signed in 1950, which provides for the protection of minorities and guarantees their rights in both countries.
The spokesperson also said the actions violated Indian law, particularly the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which seeks to preserve the religious character of places of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947.
Referring to the recent demolition of a mosque in Uttar Pradesh, he said a “Hindu-driven Islamophobic campaign” had created an “imminent threat” to centuries-old heritage sites and places of worship.
He cited the Akhonji Mosque, Ajgaib Shaheed Mosque and Saharanpur Collectorate Mosque, along with the 1,000-year-old Ganj Shahida Mosque, which he said had recently received court notices.
The spokesperson called on the international community to take action against the continued targeting of Muslims and their religious and cultural heritage in India.
Saharanpur mosque demolition
His remarks came days after authorities demolished a more than century-old mosque inside the Saharanpur Collectorate complex in Uttar Pradesh.
The mosque was demolished in the early hours of September 5 after authorities said the action had been carried out in accordance with a district court order and under tight security.
The mosque committee and opposition politicians, however, have disputed the authorities’ account, saying the structure had stood at the site for more than 120 years and that the demolition was carried out without adequate opportunity for legal challenge.
Opposition leaders have strongly criticised the demolition. Congress MP Imran Masood called it an attack on the Indian Constitution, while Samajwadi Party MP Iqra Hasan said she had been placed under house arrest before the demolition to prevent her from travelling to Saharanpur.
Other opposition figures, including Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, also criticised the action.
BSP leader and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati accused the state government of pursuing a wider campaign to declare mosques illegal and demolish them in haste.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also questioned the protection available to Muslim places of worship. The mosque committee has cited historical records, including documents dating back to 1911, as evidence of the building’s longstanding use as a place of worship. The district court’s September 2 ruling upheld an earlier eviction order. Wider concerns
The demolition has also drawn criticism from Muslim organisations. Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind president Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani expressed concern over the demolition and questioned the use of bulldozers in disputes involving places of worship.
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The organisation said it was compiling relevant legal documents and evidence and would decide its next course of action after legal consultation.
Jamiat general secretary Maulana Muhammad Hakimuddin Qasmi said the haste with which the action was carried out had caused considerable concern among residents and others seeking legal redress.
He stressed that affected parties should be given an opportunity to defend their rights and approach higher courts before such drastic action was taken. The mosque committee has said it intends to challenge the demolition before the higher courts.
Pakistan rejects India’s claim over Narowal temple
The Foreign Office spokesperson also rejected a statement by India’s Ministry of External Affairs concerning a Hindu temple in Narowal, Pakistan. “Contrary to India’s claim, the temple’s structure was damaged in torrential rain,” he said.
