Firdous Qadri
Srinagar, Mar 4 (GNS): As was on the cards following the visit by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and IGP Kashmir on February 28, Congregational prayers were held at the historic Jamia Masjid on Friday for the first time after 31 weeks.
Hundreds assembled at the grand-old mosque in the morning for the weekly Friday prayers, officials said.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir PK Pole and Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar had visited the historic Jamia Masjid here on Monday.
They had held meeting with imam of the grand mosque and secretary of Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid, the body which manages the affairs of the mosque. The body has been expressing strong resentment over the decision by authorities to not allow Friday prayers. As per it, Friday prayers were disallowed for 30 straight weeks at the historic mosque till hitherto.
In a recent statement, the Auqaf had termed disallowing the obligatory Muslim prayers at the mosque “extremely regrettable and reprehensible”.
“It is incomprehensible that while the followers of all the religions across the world including Jammu and Kashmir are attending their respective religious places of worship and performing rituals why are the prayers being disallowed and stopped in the largest place of worship in Kashmir – the Jamia Masjid Srinagar which is a great centre and source of Islamic teachings,” the Auqaf had said in the statement. (GNS)
