By TCN Staff Reporter,
Lucknow: The executive committee of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) in its meeting at Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulema, Luknow today resolved to approach the Supreme Court against the Ayodhya issue verdict delivered on September 30.
AIMPLB spokesperson, SQR Ilyas claimed that Hashim Ansari, the litigant in the case has also agreed to accept the board’s decision.
“The reconciliation efforts were his personal endeavors and AIMPLB is not involved in them any way. Ansari has communicated that he will abide by the board’s decision,” said Ilyas.
The board stated that judgment delivered by the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court contained many infirmities and thus an appeal was necessary in apex court. “It was done (the verdict) on the basis of faith of majority group while the evidences and even the faith of the minority group was overlooked,” said Yousuf Hatim Muchala, member, EC, AIMPLB.
He also claimed that as per Indian constitution all are equal before the eyes of law. Over a query that Islam also relies on faith and thus the claims of Hindus cannot be ignored, he remarked: “Islam is a Qabil-e-Ehtiram religion and based on facts. It is not Qabile-e-Ibadat, based on faith. We cannot gift the land of any masjid or demolist it to construct a temple.”
However, the Assistant General Secretary, AIMPLB, Maulana Abdul Raheem Qureishi stated that the board was never against reconciliatory steps.
“Only condition is that the proposals should abide by Indian constitution and shariah principles besides upholding the dignity of Muslims,” he said.
Responding to other queries raised on the occasion, Qureishi ignored the support extended by Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. “The board is non-political body and does not take into account any such statements. Our domain is limited only to social and Shariah,” he said.
Qureishi however decried the recent incident involving Shahi Imam Bukhari where he is reported to have instigated his supported leading to alleged assault of a scribe. “No one has the right to assault any one and we condemn such incident. However, as Imam Bukhari is not a member of the board, we did not discuss this issue,” he remarked.
Earlier, the executive committee of the AIMPLB chaired by its president and rector, Nadwatul Ulema began at around 11 am in Lucknow. Heavy security was managed outside the Islamic seminary by administration. No journalist was allowed inside the meeting hall however several reports suggested that it was a storming session with the board members weighing the consequences of opting for reconciliation by accepting the High Court verdict and making an appeal to the Apex Court.