MP Waqf Board has nothing to do with Auqaf-e-Shahi: Saba Sultan
A meeting of Auqaf-e-Shahi (Royal Trust) was held in Bhopal on Thursday with mutawalli (custodian) Saba Sultan, daughter of late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, who had especially come to the city to chair the meeting.
A meeting of Auqaf-e-Shahi (Royal Trust) was held in Bhopal on Thursday with mutawalli (custodian) Saba Sultan, daughter of late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, who had especially come to the city to chair the meeting.
Replying to a question on confrontation of the Royal Trust with State Waqf Board, Saba Sultan said the Waqf Board has nothing to do with Auqaf-e-Shahi. She said her status (as custodian of Royal Trust) was also approved by the Saudi Arabian authorities. "Now my preference is to increase the collections from the properties of the royal trust which in turn would be used to increase salaries of imams and muazzins of the various mosques under the trust," she said. Saba said she has plans for renovation of Sufia Mosque in Koh-e-Fiza.
When asked if enforcement directorate (ED) had served them a notice related to earnings from Auqaf-e-Shahi, Saba said she hasn't recieved any such notice so far.
Saba also reconstituted the executive board of Auqaf-e-Shahi. Azam Tirmizi was appointed secretary and social worker Abdul Tahir were inducted in the committee. The committee advises Saba Sultan on financial, administrative and legal purviews.
New appointments were necessary following resignations of two members including former secretary Mohammed Hashim and Umar Farooq Khattani.
Saba heads an estimated Rs 1,200 crore Auqaf-e-Shahi, a royal endowment charitable trust of erstwhile Bhopal State. Properties are spread across Bhopal and the holy city of Mecca and Medina.
The meeting earns significance because of the recent confrontation between the trust advisor Ghufran-e-Azam and State Waqf Board chairman Shoukat Mohammad Khan.
Former chairman of State Waqf Board and advisor to the royal trust Ghufran-e-Azam reiterated that Auqaf-e-Shahi is an independent entity.
Now the reconstituted executive board consists of Ghufran-e-Azam, Sikandar Hafiz Khan, ZU Alvi, Abdul Tahir, Ameer Bux and Azam Tirmizi.
