Srinagar, Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema, a conglomerate of religious bodies, and Muslim Personal Law Board (MPLB) have expressed concern over the questioning of Moulana Rehmatullah Mir Qasmi, by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The Majlis presided over by the Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam expressed concern over the summoning of the president of MMU, Moulana Rehmatullah Qasmi yesterday by NIA and called the action “very sad and unacceptable”.
Qasmi, the Rector of the famous Islamic seminary Darul Aloom Raheemiya, was questioned by the NIA in a case related to alleged funding activities of Al Huda Education Trust (AHET) in Rajouri.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the MMU also demanded immediate release of Mirwaiz Molvi Umar Farooq, the founding guardian of Muttahida Majlis Ulema, who has been “detained” for the past four years in his Nigeen house.
It was also demanded in the meeting that Mirwaiz along with other detained religious preachers’ release should be ensured.
The Grand Mufti said that they have already written to Lieutenant Governor a letter seeking immediate release of Mirwaiz Farooq and have not received any reply so far
The meeting alleged that the officials of various religious institutions, Mosques and Shrines have complained that the government is trying to get its hands on them to interfere in local discipline.
“This is a very serious issue the Waqf Board should not exceed its limits and powers”, the meeting was told and added “let the local Awqaf Committee and the administration do their work”, the Grand Mufti told media persons on the sidelines of the meeting.
On a question if the Jamia Masjid was taken over by the Waqf Board Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam said that “we are seeing peace here with great difficulty…don’t know what would be the reaction of the people here”.
The meeting also discussed the rampant spread of drugs and the people involved in it were demanded to be given the strictest punishment. There is a dire need for united efforts to get rid of drug abuse among the Kashmiri society, they demand.