Shia & Sunni Waqf Boards clueless on polls after tenure

LUCKNOW: Five days after the lockdown was enforced and for over 50 days now, UP Sunni Waqf Central Waqf Board has been headless with the tenure of

board chairperson Zufar Farooqui

and other members ending on March 31.

The Shia Central Waqf Board’s five-year term too ended on May 18 and the twin boards are awaiting intimation from the state government on fresh elections.

In Uttar Pradesh, there are around 3 lakh Sunni waqf properties and 7,225 Shia waqf properties, which are controlled by the boards.

Former chairperson

, Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board, Waseem Rizvi has shot off a letter to the state government, seeking extension of its five-year tenure.

Sunni Central Waqf Board’s former chairperson Zufar Farooqui, however, has not sought extension, but the board intimated the government in February last week about completion of tenure.

Chief executive officer

(CEO) of Sunni Waqf Board Syed Shoeb said, “I am carrying on with my work, but policies and decisions cannot be taken unless the board is elected. There has been no official communication, but the lockdown could be a reason for delay.”

Speaking to TOI, three-time chairperson of

Sunni Board

, Zufar Farooqui said, “I have not asked for extension, but the board has to be elected and the CEO notified the government.”

Four-time chairperson of

Shia Waqf Board

between 2005 and 2020, Waseem Rizvi said, “Powers resting with the board under Waqf Act can only be fulfilled by the board and not by a government-appointed administrator. The election process should have begun long before the pandemic struck, but nothing was done.”