Girl students of Jamia Hafsa have categorically refused to vacate Modern Children Library unless the government rebuilds the mosques demolished by the authorities concerned in the federal capital.
Speaking at a news conference here on Sunday, representatives of Student Action Committee Amna Nadeem, Khola Abdur Rahman and Ramla Saeed vowed to continue their protest against the demolition of religious places and made it clear that they would not vacate the library building.
"We demand of the government to rebuild Masjid Ameer-e-Hamza otherwise our protest will continue and will not vacate the library," female students said.
Protesting the demolition of two mosques, the seminary students have allegedly occupied the Modern Children Library adjacent to Madrassah Jamia Hafsa for the last couple of weeks.
They dispelled the impression that children library was occupied by them, saying they were merely sitting in the premises of library to register their protest against demolition of mosques and seminaries in the capital. "We have not occupied it... we are just sitting in the premises (of library) as a mark of protest," students claimed.
They also rejected the committee constituted by the government to settle the issue of Ameer-e- Hamza mosque and other related issues. The government has constituted the committee comprising Ulema, CDA authorities and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration.
Girl students were of the view that the government should negotiate with the Students Action Committee instead of involving CDA and ICT administration.
The government is facing criticism from religious parties over demolition of mosques and seminaries in the capital and seminaries' students are protesting against it. On the other hand, President General Pervez Musharraf has said that these mosques and seminaries were being relocated.