Shia Central Board of Waqfs: Hectic lobbying on for May 13 poll

The board, which is the custodian of nearly 5,500 Waqf properties mostly in Lucknow, became important as land prices sky-rocketed. Rizvi, who was the chairman during the BSP regime, regained his post after legal intervention, opening a floodgate of allegations and washing dirty linen in public. Jawwad headed an agitation, in which one person died last year. A war of words followed between Minority Welfare Minister Azam Khan and Jawwad. The issue even reached SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav.

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As Rizvi continued with his tenure, he dismissed nearly 150 Mutawallis (caretakers) of various Waqf properties, including Jawwad. While notices were also served for submitting accounts, sale of land for graves under Jawwad’s Waqf graveyard was stopped.

“Everybody knows who has usurped Waqf land. I am fighting a battle to save the Waqf. Rizvi faces corruption charges and a case is pending against him in Allahabad High Court. He is being shielded by the state government,” Jawwad alleged.

Rizvi, however, maintained that the court has not said anything against him. “They are spreading canard. How can anyone stop me from contesting? Who is taking the side of those who sold Waqf properties is known to everyone,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, Jawwad has formed a committee of local clerics, citing his ailing health, to take forward the battle against Rizvi. The committee will hold a meeting on Friday.

Meanwhile, SCBW under Rizvi has also grounded Congress MLA Nawab Kazim Ali Khan alias Naved Miya — a bete noire of Azam Khan in Rampur. While Naved has been removed as Mutawalli of Waqf properties, several properties have also been sealed.

Besides Rizvi, Habib Haider — cousin of Javed Abedi who heads UP Pollution Control Board — and Aazim Zaidi, considered close to Azam Khan, are also expected to file nomination for the chairmanship of SCBW.

The SCBW is a 11-member body including two each Shia legislators, MPs, Bar Council members and Mutawallis. The government also nominates one cleric, government official and social worker — all from Shia community. Among Shia legislators, there are two from SP — Shadab Fatima and Bukkal Nawab — and Congress MLA Nawab Kazim Ali Khan. Two among them have to be elected.

Though Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is the only Shia MP from the state, but since he is a minister and cannot participate in the election and no Shia lawyer is a member of the Bar Council, the government will also nominate others in these two categories.

The most important election will be of Mutawalli category, which has 33 members. Two among them will be elected. These 33 are Mutawallis of Waqf properties whose annual income is above Rs 1 lakh. Rizvi will contest in this category.