By Abdul Hameed, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: The Working Committee of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) met on February 7 in Bhatkal, Karnataka and discussed three major issues: Babri Masjid dispute, Nikahnama and compulsory marriage registration and proposed Central Madrasa Board.
Abdur Raheem Quraishi, secretary of AIMPLB, told media the meeting discussed the developments taking place in Babri Masjid demolition case. He said the convener of the meeting Advocate Zafaryab Jilani, who is also arguing on behalf of Muslims in the Babri Masjid title suit informed the Working Committee that two trials were going on in Babri Masjid case in the courts of Lucknow and Raibareli. It is being delayed deliberately by the CBI. He also said the Liberhan Commission constituted by the central government on December 16, 1992 was to submit its report within six months of its formation but it could not do so even after 16 years.
The Board has decided to apprise the central government of its concern over the delay in the case. Abdur Raheem Quraishi told TwoCircles.net on phone: “A delegation of the Board will meet the union law minister within a month.” He said the case is expected to be decided by June or July 2009.
The Board has rejected the central government proposal to constitute a central madrasa board. Quraishi said the members opposed the institution of Madrasa Board because the move is against the fundamental minority right to establish their institutions and run them as they want. He added that a delegation from the AIMPLB will meet Prime Minister to register its opposition.
The members also condemned the efforts of the UP government to pass a ruling that deprives the married women from receiving inheritance while allowing the same for an unmarried girl. They demanded that all the females should be given equal share in inheritance irrespective of their marital status.
Quraishi made it clear that the members of working committee of AIMPLB strongly opposed the marriage registration. He said this will cause problems for people living in rural and interior areas as they will have to make rounds of the district headquarters for the registration. ‘The Board will demand that the Nikahnama issued form Qazi should be taken as proof of registration,’ Quraishi told TCN.
Asked about the role of women in the functioning of the Muslim Personal Law Board, Professor Quraishi said the Board had 25 female members who regularly coordinate to resolve any pertinent issue.
The meeting was attended by 35 members and 84 invitees.