NWFP Minister for Auqaf and Religious Affairs, Amanullah Haqqani on Thursday said that the provincial government is collecting details about the occupation of the commercial properties of the department which would be followed by actions against them.
Addressing a press conference here at the Media Centre of the Directorate of Information, he said that government has so far not received any complaint in this regard. Rejecting the impression of the stuffing of JUI-F affiliated Ulema in the department.
He said that the government is following strict merit, rules and regulations in the recruitment of the Khateebs as well as Khadimeens of the mosques. He said that all those possessing Sanads from affiliated madaris of the Wafaqul Madaris or Elmul Fazil are qualified to the post. Similarly, he said that the provincial government is also giving importance to the religious sect while making such appointment for the larger interest in the maintenance of the sectarian harmony in the province.
In response to a question, he said that the provincial department of Auqaf is supervising the affairs of 82 mosques and have also recruited a few khateebs for them. However, he said that interview for the post of khadimeen would be made shortly.
Regarding the reconstruction of the mosques destroyed in the devastated October 8 earthquake, he said that the department has sanctioned an amount of Rs 2b million for the reconstruction of the destroyed mosques.
The fund would be released shortly. However, majority of the affected areas did not come under the Auqaf Act. He said that the funds announced by the federal government for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the earthquake affected areas not covering the mosques. He appealed the resourceful faithful to make donations for the reconstruction of the worship places.
About the distribution of Auqaf fund, he said it was always being distributed without any discrimination on the basis of religion or sect. Hindus, Sikhs and Christians have also received the fund.
However, he said that Qaidianis have never submitted any application for it and in case of submission their appeal would also be taken into consideration He said that the provincial government of MMA was much interested in celebrations of the religious festivals on the same day with the federal government. However, he said that federal government has never given importance to the witnesses regarding moon sighting of Ramazaan or Shabaan.