Lucknow: The UP Shia Central Waqf Board chairman Waseem Rizvi has stated that Pakistan was funding the Sunni Central Waqf Board to keep it’s legal battle for the Babri mosque going.

Mr Rizvi has raised questions on the expenses incurred by the oldest litigant, late Hashim Ansari, and now his son Iqbal Ansari, in contesting the case for decades on the meagre income got from a cycle repair shop. He add-ed that the Sunni board was incapable of paying wages to its employees, but could afford expensive lawyers from the high court to Supreme Court to fight the case.

“There were protests in Pakistan when the mosque was demolished. In 2005, people linked to Pakistan-based terror outfit had attacked Ayodhya...  Pakistan has a direct involvement in the matter”, he alleged.

Mr Rizvi further deman-ded that a probe be initiated in the funds of Sunni Board and Iqbal Ansari.

UP Sunni Central Waqf Board chairman Zufar Ahmad Farouqui, meanwhile, termed the allegations as a “figment of wild imagination” but welcomed an inquiry into the funds of the Sunni Board.

“Waseem Rizvi only wants cheap publicity. Our entire financial burden for the Babri Masjid case is borne by the All-India Muslim Personal law Board which is a big organisation with sufficient public funding,” Mr Farouqui said.

He added that Waseem Rizvi has been the chairman of the Shia Board since 2007 and it is amusing to note that he has suddenly developed an interest in the Babri case.

“Where was he since the past ten years” he asked.

Meanwhile, Iqbal Ansari said that the lawyers fighting the case on his behalf and earlier, on his father’s behalf, were not charging any money.

 “I am always under constant vigilance of intelligence agencies. If there had been such a funding it would have long been uncovered by these units. In fact, it is Waseem Rizvi’s money that needs to be investigated. How has he got a hotel in Dubai and other luxuries?” he asked.