Regional parties allowed illegal occupation of Waqf land: Andrabi

J&K Waqf Board Chairperson, Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi during visits to Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah Shrine in Rajouri on Friday.
J&K Waqf Board Chairperson, Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi during visits to Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah Shrine in Rajouri on Friday.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 5: J&K Waqf Board Chairperson, Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi today visited Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah Shrine at Shahdara Sharief in Rajouri and inspected the campus and took stock of the facilities for pilgrims besides auditing accounts of the Shrine.
She talked to different delegations of people, pilgrims visiting the shrine and also spoke to the district administration representatives separately.
She also presided over the meeting of Waqf Management of Rajouri and took many decisions for improving working of the Board in the district.
Andrabi told reporters that in the era of transformation, Waqf in J&K is on the path of correcting errors of the past.
“For decades, our politicians behaved like monarchs and distributed Waqf land and assets among their political workers who had encroached assets for decades. But now we have compiled the records and soon action against these illegal occupiers and encroachers will start,” she maintained.
Andrabi also said that J&K is the only place in whole of India where a long lease of Waqf property has been given to political workers for residential purposes.
“Illegality of highest order in Waqf Management in J&K for decades has resulted in huge loss to the assets, properties and funds of Waqf. Axes will fall soon on the political exploiters who used Waqf as the fund-raising organization for their political parties. Under Central Waqf Act, which is applicable to J&K now, all earlier illegal autonomous decisions of J&K Auqaf stand cancelled automatically,” she said adding: “Action against all those who are occupying Waqf properties on rent, having huge unpaid rent liabilities will start and they will face eviction soon. Waqf properties are not free and nobody will be allowed to use these properties without paying.”
Waqf Board Chairperson said that public trust in Waqf Management will be restored at all costs.