Clear Liabilities Or Vacate Them, Otherwise We Will Be Sealing, Re-Auctioning Them: Dr Darakhshan To Defaulters

SRINAGAR: Chairperson of Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board Dr Darakhshan Andrabi  received the cheques from the shopkeepers whose shops were sealed by Waqf Board on Wednesday evening.

Waqf Chairperson along with Waqf officers late last evening sealed seven shops in Auqaf Market, Lal Chowk when despite many notices and warnings by the Waqf Chairperson to the defaulters, they failed to deposit their outstanding rent amount.

It is pertinent to mention that the whole Market remained closed and protested against the Waqf decision. But Dr Andrabi rubbished their claims through media that even after the rent hike, the properties at Lal Chowk are rented out at a very marginal rate as compared to the rates in the business hub of Srinagar.

She reiterated her stand that if the allottees don’t deposit the outstanding rent, shops will remain sealed. Later in the evening, Auqaf market traders representatives called upon Dr Andrabi at her office and asked her to accept the part payment today only and agreed to clear all remaining pending rent dues within a month.

Dr Andrabi after agreeing to the traders submission, this evening visited the market and received the cheques from the shopkeepers and unsealed the shops.

Later, speaking to the media Dr Darakhshan said that she was not against any one utilizing Waqf property as per rules to earn his livelihood but she will not allow anybody to grab the finances or assets of the Waqf Board. “All allottees of Waqf Board properties are informed that no concession of time will be given to any defaulters. Clear the liability amounts and retain the properties or vacate them, otherwise we will be sealing and re-auctioning them”, Dr Andrabi said.