The interior ministry has alleged the Faisal Mosque is being illegally occupied by the International Islamic University Islamabad, a charge the university administration denies.

The mosque is largest in South Asia and is regarded as a national monument as well as a symbol of strong Pak-Saudi relations. This masterpiece of art was gifted by late Saudi King Shah Faisal al-Saud.

The accusation of occupation of the mosque came to fore in a response from the interior ministry to a written question from National Assembly member Abdul Akbar Chitrali, who was elected on the MMA platform.

The written reply said that Faisal Mosque is being illegally occupied by the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI). It also said that the Dawa Academy of IIUI has also been illegally occupying a part of the mosque.

It said that this matter has also been brought into the notice of the relevant Senate committee.

Interestingly, the IIUI is also a Saudi funded project and Dawa Academy has been having its offices at the mosque since the very start. The old campus of the IIUI is only a few hundred meters from the mosque.

IIUI Spokesperson Nasir Farid said that according to the university’s charter, the relevant university departments, with the CDA’s assistance, oversee matters of the mosque.

He said that Dawa Academy has been administering the mosque for a long time. He reiterated that the CDA authorities are also on board regarding this arrangement.