Let us not stretch it further: Shahi Imam

New Delhi: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Saturday expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict. All Muslim leaders appealed to the community to ensure that peace and harmony prevails and nobody takes law into their hands.

“We are dissatisfied with certain findings of the Supreme Court. We respect the Supreme Court verdict and respectfully disagree with certain aspects of it,” said AIMPLB secretary Zafaryab Jilani.

Mr Jilani said they will study the judgement and may seek a review. “Even the inner courtyard has been given to the other party. It is not just,” he argued, adding the working committee of the board will soon sit and discuss. “Whatever legal recourse is possible we will take,” Mr Jilani said.

“We had hoped that the apex court will pronounce its verdict not keeping the faith factor in mind, but available historical facts and evidence,” said AIMPLB member Kamal Farooqui.

However, Mr Zafar Ahmad Farooqui, the chairman of Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board which was one of the main litigants in the case, on Saturday welcomed the verdict and said it has no plans to challenge it. The Shia Central Waqf Board, whose appeal was dismissed by the apex court, has welcomed the verdict.

Accepting the verdict, the Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid in Delhi, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, said on Saturday the matter should not be stretched further. “We accept the court order and the Hindu-Muslim issue, which had been going on for several years, should come to an end now Muslims of India want peace in the country. Before the court’s order, all Muslims had said that they would accept the court’s order, whatever it be.”