Letters to the editor

This refers to Seema Chishti8217;s report, 8216;Muslim board for reform...8217; IE, July 17.

Selective modernity

8226; This refers to Seema Chishti8217;s report, 8216;Muslim board for reform8230;8217; IE, July 17. It is amazing that while deciding to set up a committee to look at 8220;social reform8221; in the wake of 8220;adverse public opinion over cases like that of Imrana8221;, the Muslim Personal Law Board ties down its hands to adhere to 8220;Shariat laws8221; in matters relating to women. Is this not dichotomous and amounting to double-speak? If the Board is for 8220;social reform8221; for Muslim women, why this preference for a medieval law which could hardly have any relevance or validity in the 21st century? The AIMPL Board continues to oppose the Constitution-directed common civil code; but why is it opposed to the independent Indian judiciary judging cases of a personal nature pertaining to Muslim women?

8212; M. Ratan, New Delhi

Keep them out

8226; I Fully support Maharashtra8217;s wakf minister Anees Ahmed8217;s demand to emulate the Karnataka wakf model in Maharashtra to reclaim the 80,000-odd acres of wakf properties in the state which include mosques, madrassas, orphanages and graveyards, that at present face the malaise of illegal sales and encroachments.To meet this purpose, the Maharashtra state wakf board should adopt the Public Premises Act as done by Karnataka and Rajasthan, which empowers the CEO of the board to take action independently against encroachers. This would eliminate the pendency of over a thousand cases in various courts.

8212; G.R. Vora, Mumbai

Lal Masjid eyewash

8226; The so-called Lal Masjid operation is officially over but it leaves the military regime and Pakistan in a major political, moral, religious and security crisis. Musharraf simply didn8217;t want 8220;a peaceful resolution8221;. The week-long stand-off was only part of the drama to show that his junta is being restrained. In fact the negotiations were successful, the draft was written and Ghazi was to be allowed safe passage, but then it was amended by the president. This is what all tyrants do. The stand-off was an eyewash to deflect attention from issues of national importance, especially the Supreme Court8217;s hearing of the petition of Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the suspended chief justice. Musharraf also wanted to use this conflict to undermine the focus on the conference of various Pakistani political parties in London. It is beyond question that the bloodbath at the mosque could have been avoided.

8212; Safiya Sameena, Vijayawada