Renowned lawyer, Mr. Osman Shaheed told the Muslims to make sure that the Wakf properties are protected. They should vote for only those political parties which include protection of Wakf properties in their election manifesto and promise to accord executive powers to Wakf Boards.
In the public courts, the greatest culprits are the Governments. He reiterated his stand that in order to protect Wakf properties, it is essential that executive powers are given to Wakf Boards but it is very regrettable that Govts. are deliberately not giving executive powers so that all the Wakf properties are destroyed. There are so many Wakf properties in the country. If these properties are restored, the Muslims can eradicate their poverty.
Mr. Osman Shaheed was addressing a meeting at Telangana Resource Centre. The meeting was convened by Mr. M. Ved Kumar, President of Telangana Resource Centre to discuss various issues connected with Wakf properties. Mr. Osman Shaheed told that there are 5 lakh acre Wakf lands in the country which can fetch an income of Rs. 6 lakh crore but the Wakf act has been keep defective in such a way that there shouldn’t be any scope for the protection of Wakf properties. He said that without executive powers, Wakf Boards can’t protect Wakf properties. He said that any Muslim has a right to file a suit in a court of law for the protection of Wakf properties for which not many expenses have to be incurred for completing legal formalities. Mr. Osman Shaheed told that if the Muslims determine to protect Wakf properties and if they continue to approach law courts, it would be possible to save these properties.
Tracing out the history of Wakfs, he said that it is the contribution of Islam. He also highlighted the efforts made in the country for the codification of Wakf acts. Mr. Anwar Khan, Principal, Anwarl Uloom College, in his presidential remarks told that Wakf properties are the best resources for the development of the Muslims. Wakf Properties are being destroyed because of the negligence of the Govt. He informed that according to a study, only 3% of the Wakf income is spent on the welfare of the Muslims whereas 97% of the income derived from the Wakf properties is being enjoyed by the illegitatimate land grabbers and the custodians (Mutawallis) of these properties. He told that after independence, the exact market value of Wakf properties has not been calculated.
If Wakf properties are managed effectively, they can yield Rs. 2000 crore income. Mr. Mohammed Nayeemullah Shareef pointed out the defects in Wakf Act of 1995 which was abruptly passed by Rajya Sabha. If this bill is implemented without carrying out the suggested amendments and without giving executive powers to Wakf Boards, it will be of no use. As per the new Wakf Act there is no provision for protecting such of the Wakf properties which have not been registered under the Wakf Act.
Mr. Mohammed Azam Khan, pointed out that the Muslim community lost the feeling of protection of its interests. He said that the Muslims constitute a sizeable population and without the progress of the Muslims, the country can’t develop. He wondered how the valuable Wakf properties were destroyed by the Govt. through Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation. In order to prove this wrong act as right, the services of the renowned lawyer Mr. Soli Sohrabji were commissioned. He questioned the Govt. as to what kind of message does it want to convey to the people Mr. Muneeruddin Mujahid said that the Muslim Community has been the most unfortunate group after independence. He pointed out that we have to face the conflicts of our own leaders. Instead of making representations to the Govt. on Muslim issues, our leaders get cooncentrate on getting their Photograph published in newspapers. Mr. Alauddin Ansari Advocate told that our own leaders deceived us. He pointed out that Sachar Committee suggested to institute Indian Wakf Service out of the corpus of National Wakf Development Corporation and to allocate Rs. 500 crore for it. It is very regrettable that Govt. has set aside such a nice proposal. The gathering was addressed by Mr. Osman Bin Mohammed, Al-Hajiri, President, Deccan Wakf Protection Society, Mr. K. Bal Reddy, Mr. Afzal Khan of Golconda and others.
——Siasat News