Sat Dec 07 05:18:43 UTC 2024: ## Muzaffarnagar Mosque and Shops at Center of Partition-Era Property Dispute

**Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh –** A decades-old property dispute in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, has escalated after a mosque and four shops near the railway station were declared “enemy property” under the 1968 Enemy Property Act. The property’s ownership traces back to the family of Pakistan’s first Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, with claims it was illegally occupied after the 1947 Partition.

The dispute pits the government, acting on a complaint from Sanjay Arora of the Rashtriya Hindu Shakti Sangathan, against local residents who claim the land was legally endowed as waqf (Islamic charitable trust) land. Arora alleges the mosque and shops were illegally constructed on enemy property, built without proper authorization and posing a threat to national security, though he offered no evidence to support the latter claim. He claims there’s no record of the property with the Waqf Board.

The government, following an investigation involving multiple local authorities and the Enemy Property Office in Delhi, declared the land owned by Liaquat Ali Khan’s father, Rustam Ali Khan, who migrated to Pakistan after Partition. Legal notices have been issued to occupants to vacate the premises.

However, local businessman Mohammad Athar, who operates a shop on the property, counters that the land was donated to the Waqf by Rustam Ali Khan, presenting documents – including a 1937 letter – to support his claim. He asserts the mosque predates Partition and that the current situation stems from political motivations and misinformation. He argues the designation as enemy property is incorrect and jeopardizes the livelihoods of many families.

This case highlights the complex legal issues surrounding enemy property in India. The value of the property in question is yet to be determined, but the dispute mirrors similar cases nationwide, including a landmark 2005 Supreme Court ruling on properties belonging to the former Raja of Mehmoodabad. The outcome will significantly impact the occupants and set a precedent for similar Partition-era land disputes.

Read More