President Dr. Arif Alvi expressed reservations about the restrictions imposed on women visiting the main hall of Islamabad’s Faisal Mosque, which has religious and tourist value.
According to a statement issued by the President’s Secretariat, Alvi emphasised that women in modest Islamic dress with covered hair were permitted to pray in Mosques all over the world.
He lamented the fact that there was no enclosure for women in the main hall and that there was no elevator, forcing elderly and ill women to use the stairs to get to the enclosure on the first floor.
President Dr. Arif Alvi has said that women in modest Islamic dress with covered hair were allowed in Mosques all over the world to offer their prayers but restrictions had been imposed on women for offering prayers and visiting the main hall of the Faisal Mosque, Islamabad (1/7) pic.twitter.com/zwEfv91450
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) December 6, 2022
which had a religious and touristic value.
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) December 6, 2022
He said that there was no enclosure for women in the main hall, and the elderly and unwell women were constrained to climbing stairs to approach the enclosure on the first floor due to the absence of an elevator. (2/7)
President Alvi expressed concern about how women would be able to pray In light of these limitations.
The president made these comments in response to a special report that Dawn News ran on September 14 that focused on the historic mosque’s beggarly, poor conditions for cleanliness and maintenance, and restrictions on women’s ability to offer prayers.
Alvi stated that he thought women should be permitted to enter the main hall to view the exquisite architectural details of this magnificent mosque and to pray in an enclosure there.
He cleared, “This is my opinion which is based upon observation throughout the world including the Harmain Sharifain.”
In its report to the President Secretariat, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) stated that it had taken steps to ensure cleanliness, carry out maintenance, and clear the area of beggars; however, after the mosque was built, as per the Dawah Academy, Islamic University’s policy, only one gallery was set aside for women, and entry into the main hall was not permitted.
Islamic University, only one gallery was reserved for ladies and there was no permission for women to enter in the main hall.
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) December 6, 2022
The President has desired that the Administrator of Faisal Mosque may discuss and brief on these issues. (7/7)
Pavan Manzoor is an experienced content writer , editor and social media handler along with a track record of youth-oriented activities in Pakistan and abroad. She was selected as a fully-funded delegate as a leadership fellow in Turkey. She also led a team of 5 volunteers at the week-long Young Professionals Fellowship in Maldives. She is also a member of the Youth Standing Committee on Higher Education.
