In the night between August 9 and 10, the district administration of Islamabad, under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, demolished the Madani Mosque located on Murree Road along with its adjoining madrasa. This action was carried out as part of an anti-encroachment campaign on green belts, initiated on the instructions of Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
Background
In January 2025, during a meeting at the Ministry of Interior, the issue of relocating the Madani Mosque and Madrasa was discussed. It was decided in the meeting that the mosque and madrasa would be moved from Murree Road to a new site in Margalla Town. For this purpose, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) was directed to allocate a 50×100 ft plot for the construction of a modern mosque and madrasa. The new facility was to include prayer halls, ablution areas, tiled flooring, and all necessary amenities. The project was estimated to cost 37 million rupees.
Construction and Implementation
The construction of the mosque and madrasa in Margalla Town was completed through the mutual cooperation of the CDA and the administration of the Madani Mosque. During the construction phase, the Interior Minister visited the site twice to review progress. Once completed, the staff and students of the madrasa were formally relocated to the new premises.
Demolition Process
After the relocation, the Madani Mosque and Madrasa on Murree Road were demolished during the night of August 9–10. This action was in line with verbal directives given by the Interior Minister in a June 2025 meeting to clear encroachments from green belts.
Sensitivity and Criticism
Although the relocation decision had already been made with the consent of both the administration and mosque management, some voices have argued that the timing was ill-advised. They suggest that, with Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations and the “Battle for Truth” event approaching, the demolition could have been postponed until after the national festivities to avoid unnecessary controversy.
Government’s Position
Authorities maintain that the relocation of the mosque and madrasa was carried out with mutual consent and that complete facilities were provided in Margalla Town. Therefore, the demolition was in accordance with prior planning and agreements.
