The Andhra Pradesh State Wakf Board on Monday turned down the proposal of State Government for a compensation or alternate land for the Manikonda properties whose ownership suit is now pending with the Supreme Court.
Talking to reporters after holding a review meeting, Wakf Board chairman Syed Shah Afzal Biyabani alias Khusro Pasha claimed that the State has told the Supreme Court that if it is found that the Manikonda land is Wakf property, the State will compensate the board by money or by providing an alternative land. He said the Wakf Board would never agree for money or alternate land as it would set a bad precedent in the country. “We want the same land to be handed back to us,” he said.
Khusro Pasha said that the board has constituted two separate committees to monitor the progress of the case in the Supreme Court. While one committee would comprise of Khusro Pasha, MLC Altaf Hyder Razvi and board member Zakir Hussain Javed, another committee would have Shafeeq Mahajir, Maqsood Ali Khan and Deputy Secretary Wakf Board Sultan Ahmed as members. These committees would review the case in the Supreme Court on daily basis when its hearing starts on August 13.
The board is also considering hiring the services of senior advocates including Ram Jeth Malani, Rajiv Dhavan, Justice Huzefa Ahmed and PP Rao.
–Agencies