After decades, sealing of Waqf shops in Lal Chowk resulted in on-the-spot payment of liabilities within a day

SRINAGAR : Chairperson of Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board and Minister of State Dr Darakhshan Andrabi on Thursday received the cheques from the shopkeepers whose shops were sealed by Waqf Board yesterday evening. Waqf Chairperson along with Waqf officers on Thursday late 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 amout.
According to a statement issued here, 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 Marked 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, late evening today visited the market and received the cheques from the shopkeepers and unsealed the shops.
Speaking to 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 in clear words 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 them and reauctioning them”, said Dr Andrabi.