Ferozepur, May 03: The Muslim community living in Ferozepur area is facing a serious problem of finding a place to perform last rites of their dear ones for the last many decades.
For carrying out the burial of their dead, members of the community have to travel nearly thirty five kilometres to Faridkot town as there is no graveyard available here for the community, having a strong population of nearly 10,000 in the area. In the process, the families have to spend a large sum on arranging transportation and performing the last rites, causing additional pain and discomfort to the already grieving family members.
The community has to suffer due to indifferent attitude of the officials of the local Waqf Board, who, otherwise is custodian of thousand acres of land, situated in and around the town but ironically Muslim community has been running from pillar to post to for the last many decades to get the allotment of a piece of waqf land for a graveyard.
While talking to the TOI, Hazi Mohammad Irfan, President of Muslim Welfare Forum said Muslims of the area have been demanding allocation of a piece of land for a graveyard from the Waqf board since years without result. Hazi Irfan while urging for a quick solution to the crisis, says he himself suffered due to non-availability of burial space. “My mother, Waheedan Khatun passed away here in 2008. As no suitable place could be found for her burial I had to take her body to Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh for burial”.
Mohammad Salauddin, member of the forum say innumerable requests have been made to the Chairman, Punjab Waqf Board, local waqf board office and local administration over the last few years without any effect. He said
Interestingly, on the persistent demand of the community, the local waqf board has recently been allotted nearly 20 kanals land under Khasra number 1382 for graveyard. The land which has been allotted to them is already under the possession of Christian community for using as cemetery for over five decades. The community feels that by allotting that particular land, which was already occupied by some other community itself, indicates the intentions of local Waqf board, which, in spite of resolving the genuine problem of the community has tried to create tension among the two communities over the issue.
While criticizing the local politicians, Hazi Irfan said the politicians have only given lip sympathy to their logic demand till now and Muslims continue to struggle to bury their dead with dignity in the town.
-Agencies