Hyderabad: Tahreek Muslim Shabban announced a two-month Waqf transparency campaign in Telangana on Sunday. The group also demanded two Muslim ministers and three Muslim MLCs.
The decisions followed a round table conference at Media Plus. Religious and community groups, lawyers, intellectuals and social activists discussed Waqf properties and Muslim representation.
TMS president Mohammed Mushtaq Mallik said almost all major religious and community organisations took part. He said only one or two organisations did not attend the deliberations.
Mallik said the Telangana State Waqf Board should publish detailed information about its assets. He sought data on the properties under its control, their estimated value and cases pending in courts.
He said the Muslim community had not received a complete picture of Waqf assets. Mallik described the value of these properties as running into “lakhs of crores of rupees”.
He stressed that Waqf properties did not belong to individual office-bearers. Therefore, he said, the Board should make details about their management available to the public.
Mallik referred to the Waqf Act, 1995, which provides for Waqf Boards with representation from several sections. These include elected representatives, MPs, MLAs, mutawallis, religious scholars and Shia representatives.
However, he alleged that Waqf properties had suffered major losses during the past three decades. He said accountability should first focus on the Waqf Board.
“We will ask the Telugu Desam, Congress and BRS later. Our first questions will be directed at the Waqf Board,” Mallik said.
He argued that the Board had an independent responsibility to protect and manage Waqf assets. He also questioned whether Waqf income was reaching the people meant to benefit from it.
According to Mallik, Waqf properties historically supported orphans, widows, poor people and needy students. They also supported people seeking medical help, education, economic advancement and religious services.
He alleged that the Telangana Waqf Board lacked a clear system to direct its income towards these groups. He also questioned the use of revenue generated by Waqf institutions.
Mallik cited auctions linked to dargahs as one source of Waqf revenue. He asked why the public could not easily access detailed income and spending data.
He also questioned whether administrative costs, hospitality and vehicles consumed Waqf revenue. Instead, he said, the money should support education, healthcare and vulnerable sections.
“This is the first time we are directly raising these questions with the Waqf Board,” he said.
Waqf transparency campaign targets representation and court cases
Mallik said the conference also focused on Muslim representation in Telangana’s government. He argued that Muslims had limited representation in political and decision-making bodies.
The conference therefore resolved to demand two Muslim ministers in the State Cabinet and three Muslim members in the Legislative Council.
Mallik referred to upcoming opportunities in the Legislative Council. He said Amir Ali Khan already served as a Muslim MLC.
He argued that another Muslim representative could have been elected through the MLA quota without affecting existing representation. Mallik alleged that an opportunity for greater representation had been lost.
He said he did not want to discuss the circumstances behind that development in detail. Still, he stressed that the demand for stronger representation remained unchanged.
The conference also decided to examine Waqf litigation across Telangana. Mallik announced a lawyers’ panel under senior High Court advocate Mir Masood Ali Khan.
He said the panel would identify Waqf cases pending before different courts. It would also review their status and assess whether current legal steps adequately protected the properties.
The exercise would seek to establish the number of pending Waqf cases. It would also identify matters requiring further legal intervention.
Mallik further announced a sustained movement through the Joint Action Committee led by Tahreek Muslim Shabban. Constituent organisations will participate in the proposed campaign.
The campaign will focus on transparency in Waqf administration and greater Muslim representation. It will continue for about two months, with participating groups coordinating their programmes.
Mallik said the initiative aimed to obtain verifiable information rather than only raise allegations. The groups want data on Waqf assets, income, court cases and use of funds.
The campaign will also press for a stronger Muslim voice in Telangana’s decision-making structure. Mallik said the participating organisations would seek responses from the authorities.
Former MP Aziz Pasha, Maulana Asim Umri, Maulana Taqi Raza Abedi and Dr Taufeeq addressed the conference. M.A. Hakeem, Mufti Abrar, Ashraf Sharfi and Dr Aleem Khan Falaki also spoke.
Osman Mohammed Khan, Mujeebullah Shareef, Dr Imtiyaz Ishaq and Raheemullah Khan Niyazi participated. Hamed Hussain Sattari, Abdul Khadeer, Mujahid Hashmi and Ilyas Shamshi also attended.
S.A. Mannan, Dr Babar Shaik, Azeez Sahab, Sikandarullah, Arshad Hashmi and Advocate Masood were among the other participants.
