Refurbishing WAKF in Kashmir
The sacred shrines in Kashmir belong to both Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims and are visited by lakhs of devotees every year .
Some of the shrines are the world renowned such as shrine of Dargah Sharif Hazratbal, Baba-Zain-ud-Din Wali R.A. (Aishmuqam), Baba Hyder Reshi R.A. (Anantnag), the last of the saints of the Rishi order in Kashmir also known as the Alamdar-i-Kashmir (Flag Bearer of Kashmir), Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Rishi R.A. (Charar- e -Sharief) , Baba Dawood Ghoni R.A. (Vailoo), Hazrat Noor Shah Bagdadi R.A. (Kund), Hazrat Sheikh Syed Samnani R.A. (Kulgam), Baba Naseeb-ud-Din Ghazi R.A. (Bijbehara) Hazrat Syed Yaqoob Sarfi R.A.,Hazrat Baba Gulindin Sahib (R.A.),Hazrat Baba Reshi Sahib R.A. Gulmarg, Hazrat Baba Shikur – u –din Sahib R.A. Watlab Sopore, Shrine of Hazrat Peer-e-Dastgeer Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Geelani R.A.at Khanyar Srinagar etc.
Muslim WAKf Board is managing these all shrines which has the unique distinction of being second largest asset rich body in Jammu and Kashmir after the government as it is the custodian of these 47 holy shrines in the Kashmir Valley. WAKF Board gets tremendous income from the Nazar o Niyaz (Donations) made by the devotees visiting these sacred shrines with unflinching faith.But there have been question mark on WAKF over its efficiency .Now in a bright development, J&K Wakf Board’s newly-elected chairperson Darakshan Andrabi has expressed her resolve to create assets like schools, universities and hospitals in the Union Territory from the proceeds of waqf property.Andrabi, also a BJP’s national executive member, was unanimously elected as chairperson of the Wakf board in the maiden meeting of its newly appointed members here .The Wakf Board’s members, appointed recently by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, include Ghulam Nabi Haleem, Suhail Kazmi, Syed Mohammad Hussain and Nawab Din. The board term will last for five years.One hopes WAKF will move in right direction in coming times .