Kashmiri ulema submit memorandum on Waqf Bill to JPC chairman

January 24, 2025 by News Desk

The Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) of Jammu and Kashmir submitted a memorandum to Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), raising concerns over the proposed Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024.

Dated January 24, 2025, the document warns of significant repercussions for the Muslim community and their institutions if the amendments are implemented.

Led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the MMU delegation criticized the amendments for threatening the autonomy of Waqf properties, historically used for charitable and religious purposes to support underprivileged communities. The memorandum stated that the proposed changes undermine constitutional rights, weaken Muslim representation in Waqf councils, and remove the “Waqf by user” provision, which recognizes long-standing religious or charitable use of properties as sufficient to establish their Waqf status.

The MMU also highlighted concerns about government overreach and the possibility of appropriation and sale of Waqf properties, creating insecurity within the Muslim community. Specific regional concerns were emphasized for Jammu and Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region, where the amendments are perceived as an attack on religious freedom and institutional independence.

The memorandum urged the immediate withdrawal of the proposed amendments and called for meaningful consultation with stakeholders to ensure the protection of Waqf properties and preserve the social and religious fabric of the community.

The document was submitted under the patronage of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and included signatures from a wide range of MMU-affiliated organizations, such as the Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar, Jamiat Ahle Hadith, Anjuman Shari Shian, and several educational and religious bodies across Jammu and Kashmir.

The MMU hopes the JPC will reconsider the amendments to safeguard the interests and rights of the Muslim community in Jammu and Kashmir and beyond.