The property is said to be registered in the name of Rustam Ali, the father of Pakistan’s first prime minister Liaquat Ali
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – After the Sambhal and Badaun mosques, yet another mosque, this time in the volatile Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar town, has landed in controversy following the declaration of over a century-old Muslim place of worship, situated near the railway station, as an “enemy property” by the Home Ministry.
The property, which has housed a mosque since 1918, is said to be registered in the name of Rustam Ali, the father of Pakistan’s first prime minister Liaquat Ali. An investigation was launched after a complaint was filed by the Rashtriya Hindu Shakti Sanghatan, raising concerns about the mosque’s construction and ownership.
Sanjay Arora, a representative of the Hindu outfit, alleged that the mosque’s recent expansion resembled a hotel rather than a place of worship. “Construction was carried out without permission from the Muzaffarnagar Development Authority, and shops have been set up on the same land,” Arora claimed. He also mentioned that the property now belongs to Sajjad Ali, the son of Rustam Ali Khan, who emigrated to Pakistan during the partition of India. “This is the property of Pakistan’s Liaquat Ali Khan’s family, and the mosque is built on land that once belonged to them,” Arora added.
In response to the allegations, Maulana Mujeeb-ul-Islam, the caretaker of the mosque, stressed that the Muslim place of worship has stood for over a century and was originally built by Nawab Rustam Ali Khan in 1918. “This mosque was established long before the creation of Pakistan. Nawab Rustam Ali Khan, born in 1863 and passing away in 1918, dedicated the land for religious purposes,” said Maulana Mujeeb-ul-Islam, pointing out that the mosque has been registered as a waqf (endowment) property since 1936.
Maulana Mujeeb-ul-Islam dismissed claims of the mosque being enemy property, insisting that the mosque was established long before the partition and remains an endowment property. “When Nawab Rustam Ali Khan passed away, Pakistan did not even exist. We have all the necessary documents to prove the legitimacy of the mosque as a waqf property,” he argued. “This decision is difficult to understand, and we will take the matter to the high court.”
The dispute has sparked a wider debate about the status of religious properties linked to families that migrated during the partition. A team formed by the District Magistrate has been investigating the matter for over a year and a half, but the controversy shows no signs of resolution. As the matter continues to unfold, both sides remain firm in their positions, with the caretaker of the mosque vowing to seek legal recourse.
