The historic sixth century mosque in heart of the city is craving for attention as insects from dead pigeons and the excreta of birds drop down upon the devotees from the roof top of once majestic centre of Islamic learning which housed the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) before being shifted to Dargah Hazratbal.
Ritually on July 13 every year the who’s who of the government throngs Hazrat Khawaja Naqshband Sahab (RA) shrine to pay tributes to 1931 Martyrs who are buried here but within a short distance lies the Khanqah which was shut down during Ramadan for days as bugs from birds disturbed those offering prayers there.
Sheikh Parvaiz , who is a regular at the Khanqah and lives in Nowhatta, agitatedly approached the management for immediate intervention of the mosque where every year massive congregation assembles to offer Khawaja Digar (afternoon prayer) led by Mirwaiz Maulana Umer Farooq.
“Not only me but hosts of devotees attempted to alert the Waqf authorities and the Intizamia Committee which takes care of this Khanqah but till date the insects problem persists with the result there is less attendance in this Masjid,” says Parvaiz.
Not only was Parvaiz concerned about the apathy of those at the helm and plight of devotes but Faqir Ali, the caretaker appointed by Waqf, was equally worried about the condition of the Khanqah with his repeated pleas to install wired net to keep off pigeons from the roof where their shit gets infested with bugs and percolate down on the prayer rugs.
“I regularly clean the shit and dead insects but things are going out of control for an old man like me who had urged the Intizamia committee and Waqf to stop entry of pigeon into the rooftop of the Khanqah,” affirms the 58-year old Faqir who hails from Kamalkote area of Uri.
The reckless approach of those managing it was apparent as electric wires lay perilously in open with contact of wooden material inside the Khanqah posing fire risk to it.
For display, two to three archaic fire extinguishers have been placed at the entry and inside of Khanqah where the dust dots every nook and corner of this majestic Masjid which was constructed by Hazrat Khawaja Khawand Mehmood Naqshbandi (RA) in 1042 Hijri (1632 AD) who later moved to Lahore leaving behind his son Hazrat Khawaja Abu Ziya Mohiuddin Naqshbandi (RA) and whose grave lies near the Khanqah which is popularly known as shrine of Hazrat Naqshbandi Sahib (RA).
“I had laid white sheets over the prayer rugs so that the insects and excreta don’t spread to more area but my efforts have failed as the unclean matter continously drip down from Khatamband which was placed under the roof some 10 years back,” says Faqir.
Apart from this grave issue, the revered shrine of Naqshband Sahib (RA) is confronted with problems of stalled expansion plan, dispute over land acquisition, archaic speaker system, poor maintenance and garbage dumped from all sides.
According to residents who live in the vicinity, the Roads and Buildings department had undertaken expansion plan of the shrine in 2008 which remains stalled till date to reasons unknown to those to be rehabilitated under shrine expansion plan.
“The vacated area has been taken over by the vendors and others use it for dumping the construction material and human excreta oozes from a toilet towards the wall of the shrine which is pathetic,” says Fayaz Ahmad of Khawaja Bazar whose case of compensation in lieu of his building is pending with the department since 2013.
The library managed by department of libraries meant for public use at the back end of the shrine has been shut while its area turned into junkyard.
From the front side of the separate mosque of the shrine, the waste water oozes from bathrooms in the plinth and later to the drain on the road thus damaging the masjid structure.
Inside the shrine, Waqf has installed multiple donation boxes from where it collects money for its staff.
“Waqf and Intizamia committee work in opposite directions in maintenance of the Khanqah and the shrine. The paper machie work was undertaken by a devotee than Waqf. Look at the historic Holy Quran which lies in a glass box. From the corner side the revered book has been consumed by paper insects indicating the neglect,” fumes Parvaiz, who approached this reporter to cover the apathy of all towards this historical heritage.
Waqf officials on being asked to comment have no idea of it all while Intizamia Committee argues resource crunch as the reason for its poor maintenance and urges anonymity for its version.
