Muslim properties, assets misused by community representatives, politicians: Andrabi

Public delegation presenting memorandum to Chairperson of Waqf Development Committee Dr Darakhshan Andrabi.
Public delegation presenting memorandum to Chairperson of Waqf Development Committee Dr Darakhshan Andrabi.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 5: Chairperson of Waqf Development Committee of Union Ministry of Minority Affairs Dr Darakhshan Andrabi is inspecting various shrines, mosques, institutions and offices in Aurangabad and Mumbai for two days.
She was accompanied by Central Waqf Committee members Waseem R Khan and Haneef Ali.
At Mumbai, CWC team visited Pankheshah Baba shrine, Unjuman-e-itihad-e-Taraqi-e-Madina Jamia Complex, Noorani Masjid, Madrasa-e-Taleem-ul-Islam, Jamia Masjid Ahl-e-Hadith and Chaudhary State Dargah Complex and other associated offices. The team also met many public delegations who submitted their memorandums.
Later, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi spoke to media regarding Muslim assets and properties. Without mincing words, Dr Andrabi said that Muslim properties and assets were misused by the community representatives and politicians for more than six decades throughout the country and more than ten percent of the assets of Waqf have already disappeared while as other about twenty percent of the assets are encroached or grabbed either by community representatives or the ruling class politicians of the past.
“Valued properties have been grabbed and sold-out or leased out for personal or political benefits throughout the country. The Ministry of Minority Affairs started geo-mapping of assets, properties and digitization of records around two years ago and these frauds came to light. The Ministry on the recommendation of Central Waqf Council has ordered massive legal action against the frauds and many FIRs have been lodged and many legal suits filed to retrieve the properties,” said Dr Darakhshan Andrabi.
“The present Waqf Law needs many changes and amendments to make it more transparent and effective while dealing with the issues of protection and security of the assets and their systematic and scientific management”, she said.