Jammu: Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi, the Chairperson of Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board today unfurled Tricolor at Youm-e-Jamhoriya celebration held by J&K Waqf Board at Waqf Complex, Rail Head, Jammu today.
The grand event was attended by Hon’ble Member of the Board Dr G N Haleem, CEO Zaheer Ahmad Kaifi, Executive Magistrate Ishtiyaq Mohiuddin, Administrator Jammu Aabid Hussain and other officers and staff of the Board in addition to the prominent citizens from different parts of Jammu Division. For the first time Waqf Awards of Excellence were conferred upon 15 persons including seven journalists, two lawyers, a social activist & media promoter. Sanjeev Pargal of the Daily Excelsior, Siddharth Daluja of the State Times, Ishfaq Gowhar of Gulistan News, Ajay Jandial of News X, Surinder Koul of ANI, Tejinder Singh Sodhi of News 18 & Kaneez Zehra of PTI were felicitated with the honors. Six religious scholors including Moulana Farooq Ahmad (Imam, Jamia Masjid Umer, Railway Station Jammu), Mufti Inayatullah Qasmi (Imam Masjid Talab Khatikan), Molvi Riyaz ul Haq Noorabadi ( Imam Dargah Hazratbal), Maulana Mohammad Younis (Imam Jamia Eidgah Rajouri), Mufti Farooq Hussain Misbahi (Markazi Jamia Masjid Poonch), Media Promoter of the Board Irfan Ahmad and in addition Aijaz Lone & Mohd Iqbal Dar (two advocates) & one social activist HR Rehman were also honoured.
Best services awards were given to the best performing officers and staff of the Board. Speaking on the occasion Dr Andrabi said that we were fortunate to have been bestowed with the world’s best constitution which guarantees the rights of all sections of society without any discrimination. Dr Andrabi presented a detailed report of the achievements of the Board in creating new infrastructure and facilities at all Sufi spiritual shrines in J&K during the past thirty three months. Dr Darakhshan Andrabi termed this era as the era of transformation in Waqf Board. She said that the initiatives taken by the Board are also aimed at the futuristic development also.
