Tourist ban on Shia-Waqf properties deferred

LUCKNOW: Buckling under pressure of Pasdaran-e-Hussain, which had threatened to prevent entry of tourists into historical imambaras from Friday if no early redressal was made to its grievances, the UP government instructed all the district magistrates for mapping and documentation of 8000-odd Shia-Waqf properties immediately.
The government has also ordered to file a rejoinder within 15 days in connection with a writ petition filed by Maulana Kalbe Sadiq in the Allahabad High Court in 2000 to initiate inquiry against Shia Waqf Board.The government has also agreed to recommend dissolution of the Waqf Board to the Central government.
The decisions were taken following hectic parleys between Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, who is heading the movement, and the district administration during the last couple of days. The administration was apparently keen on avoiding embarrassment it might have to face had tourists been physically prevented by Shias from entering the imambaras.
Welcoming these decisions at a big gathering at the Asafi Imambara, Maulana Jawwad gave a fortnight to Government to act. Failing which, he threatened to launch a statewide agitation.‘‘And this time there would be no talks,’’ he cautioned. Elaborating on these decisions he said,‘‘After mapping and documentation, all the waqf properties sold in the past would be reverted back to the respective waqfs, howsoever costly they might be.’’ This would be a big gain for the community, he added.
As far as irregularities in the Hussainabad and Allied Trusts are concerned, district magistrate Rama Raman has given in writing that secretary Najmul Hasan Zaidi has been removed and Hussain Mehndi, incharge of the toshakhana, suspended. An inquiry has also been initiated into the irregularities during their tenure. A team of lekhpal and naib tehsildar has been formed to verify trust properties. After this exercise, unauthorised occupations would be removed in a phased manner.
The DM has also assured appointment of an honest person from within the community to the secretary’s post. Maulana Jawwad, however, has insisted that the new appointment should be made with the consent of the responsible members of the community.