A thief stole UPS batteries and a donation box from a mosque in Jahanian, Khanewal on Friday night, also leaving behind a letter to explain his intent.
Qari Saeed, the prayer leader of Jamia Masjid Sadiqul Madina in Chak 163-10R, told The Express Tribune that along with the donation box, two USP batteries worth Rs50,000 had been stolen from the mosque when worshippers were busy during Laylatul Qadr prayers.
“This matter is between me and Almighty God. Please, nobody should try to find me. I am a very needy person and thus stealing from Allah’s home,” the thief’s letter read.
He further wrote that he had come to the mosque once and asked the prayer leader for help but the latter had refused and thrown him out.
“When people refused to help me, I was forced to steal from the mosque,” he wrote. “I have not stolen anything from anyone’s house. I’m just taking a few things from Allah’s house so this is a matter between me and Him. None should poke their nose in our matter.”
Locals have expressed sympathy for the thief and asked Qari Saeed to forgive him for he must be very needy to do this.
Abbas, a resident, said he along with other worshippers had agreed to buy new UPS batteries for the mosque.
However, Qari Saeed insisted that the thief must be caught and punished. But when questioned whether anyone had come seeking help in the past few days, he declined to comment.
A similar incident occurred in Ramazan last year in Jahanian. A thief had stolen taps from Hasnain Kareemain mosque and left a letter to the mosque committee saying he stole because he was very poor and would pay the mosque when he had enough money.
