AIMPLB to discuss whether to file review petition on Ayodhya

Shahira Naim
Tribune News Service
Lucknow, November 16

An important meeting of the executive committee of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board is scheduled for on Saturday to discuss if the Board should file a review petition regarding the Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya.

According to Zafaryab Jilani, senior lawyer and member of AIMPLB executive, during the meeting a detailed discussion on the verdict will take place.

The meeting will be held on the campus of Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama in Lucknow where the lawyers who represented the case are likely to be present.

After the Supreme  court verdict gave the entire disputed land for the construction of the Ram temple, Muslim stakeholders have been sharply divided on the issue of asking for a review and if they should accept the five acres of land in Ayodhya.

The apex court had stated that either the central government can give the five-acre land to the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board from the nearly 68 acres of land it had acquired in 1993 under the Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act or the state government could hand over the piece of land at a ‘suitable prominent place in Ayodhya’.

Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board Zufar Faruqi initially said that the USCWB was not in favour of filing a review petition.

He has now claimed that the USCWB is seeking legal opinion in this regard. He will also give regard would be given to the decision taken by the Sunday meeting of the AIMPLB as it represents all sections of Muslims, said Faruqi.

The Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board will take the final call at a meeting scheduled for November 26.

On the other hand, Iqbal Ansari, the son of the original litigant Hashmin Ansari, has ruled out chances of his filing a review petition maintaining that he would respect the Supreme Court verdict.

However, Jilani has expressed his dissatisfaction with the ruling. He is also the convener of the All India Babri Masjid Action Committee (AIBMAC).

Earlier he was the counsel for the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board and is now representing the AIMPLB.

Speaking to the media in Delhi soon after the verdict was delivered Jilani had said that he respected the Supreme Court verdict but was not ‘satisfied’ with it and would study the judgement before deciding if they would go for a review petition.

According to Jilani all senior leaders will meet during the AIMPLB meeting on November 17 to discuss the issue threadbare and take a final call on the legal options.