Representatives of the Muslim community organised a gathering here on Sunday to demand a separate institution in Punjab to handle issues relating to their ancestral property and marriage. Backed by Punjab Wakf Board chairman Mohammad Izhar Alam, the demand was supported by the state's finance minister, Parminder Singh Dhindsa.

Speaking at the event, which saw participation of several Muslim social and religious groups, the leaders batted for an institution under the Mohammeden law on the pattern of Imarat-E-Shariya in other regions of the country.

In his address, Alam, a former head of the Punjab Police, said such a separate institution would help Muslims to get justice more quickly than under the usual legal process.

Dhindsa said, "Followers of every religion should have the right to have their own institution to deal with personal issues according to their norms."