Road project: Residents warn against demolition of mosques

MARDAN: The dwellers of Nawa Killay on Saturday staged a protest against the possible demolition of five mosques to make way for the construction of the Toro-Nawa Killay Road.

Carrying banners and placards, the demonstrators gathered outside the Mardan Press Club and warned the authorities against implementing the plan.

Talking to reporters, former federal minister Khawaja Muhammad Khan Hoti, Maulana Afsar Khan, Abid Ali Shah advocate and other elders said that the government had started a plan to rebuild Toru-Nawa Killay Road. They added that in the reconstruction of the road, five mosques would be demolished at different places. They argued that the government officials said that the mosque would be demolished 10 to 11 feet to widen the road. The speakers said that they would not be allowed to demolish the mosques. They added that the government should demolish the markets, shops and commercial areas in the construction of the road but avoid demolishing mosques. They argued that they would defend the mosques in the construction of the road at all costs. They said that a 14-day notice has been received from the administration to vacate the mosques.

They added that the residents of the area have also met the DC Mardan and informed him about the incident, but no concrete response has been received from him. Khawaja Hoti said a particular party had been ruling the province for the last 13 years. “They are creating more problems instead of settling issues,” he said and demanded the authorities to save the mosques while building the road.