Former Telangana Waqf Board chairman Mohammed Masiullah Khan and other BRS leaders submit a memorandum to the Waqf Board chief
HYDERABAD — Senior leaders of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) have urged the Telangana government to take immediate steps to protect 510 acres of Waqf land belonging to Jamia Nizamia, one of South India’s most prominent Islamic educational institutions.
A delegation led by former Telangana Waqf Board chairman Mohammed Masiullah Khan, former Telangana Urdu Academy chairman Khwaja Mujeebuddin, Khwaja Badruddin and other BRS leaders met Telangana Waqf Board Chairman Syed Azmatullah Hussaini and submitted a memorandum seeking urgent intervention in the matter.
The delegation demanded that the government ensure the cancellation of registration and transfer documents relating to the 510-acre property located in Survey No. 83 and have the land officially included in the list of prohibited properties.
During the meeting, the leaders highlighted measures taken during the previous BRS government for the protection of Waqf properties. They said several Waqf lands had been identified and brought under the protection of Section 22A, which prevents the registration of transactions involving certain categories of land.
According to the memorandum, the delegation also suggested that the government adopt an approach similar to the one used in providing alternative land to the State Bank and exert pressure to safeguard the Waqf property.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Masiullah Khan appealed to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to ensure the protection of the land dedicated to Jamia Nizamia.
“Jamia Nizamia is a great institution of South India from where Huffaz, Islamic scholars and Muftis graduate. The land was endowed for this institution, and the government must take steps to protect it,” he said.
Masiullah Khan warned that if the government failed to safeguard what he described as a highly valuable Waqf property, BRS minority leaders would launch a protest campaign.
“If the present government fails to protect this valuable Waqf land, BRS minority leaders will not hesitate to organise demonstrations, including protests at the Telangana Secretariat, the State Assembly and the Haj House,” he said.
He added that the party was examining the legal aspects of the dispute and would soon decide whether to file an application in connection with an ongoing case before the Telangana High Court.
The former Waqf Board chairman also accused the state government of attempting to acquire land associated with Shahi Masjid under the pretext of expansion works.
He alleged that the government was misleading the public by linking the issue to the expansion of the mosque while seeking control of land attached to the religious property.
“Efforts to acquire land belonging to Shahi Masjid for the expansion of the assembly will not be tolerated,” he said.
Masiullah Khan further stated that no permission would be given for the transfer of land associated with Shahi Masjid at Bagh-e-Aam to the government.
“If the government attempts to acquire the mosque land, there will be public protests and legal action. We will approach the courts and pursue all available legal remedies,” he said.
The dispute has added to the growing debate over the protection and management of Waqf properties in Telangana. While BRS leaders are demanding immediate action from the government and the Waqf Board, no official response from the state government was available at the time of reporting.
The matter is expected to remain under public and legal scrutiny as political leaders, religious organisations and government authorities continue to debate the future of the disputed land.
