Maulana Wali Rehmani, Sultan Ahmed and Mr. Jameel Manzar in a media meet (Photo Maeeshat)

By Pervez Bari for Maeeshat

Kolkata: In the backdrop of fierce ongoing controversy over Triple Talaaq with case having been slammed in Supreme Court of India and the introduction of Uniform Civil Code, (UCC), through the backdoor by the Law Commission to interfere with the Islamic Shariah (personal laws), communal riots and other crucial issues plaguing the Muslims, the three-day 25th session of the general body meeting of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, (AIMPLB), starting here on today (November 18) will keenly be followed by the harassed community members as well as the government.

About 400 delegates from all over the country, some of whom have already arrived, are likely to participate in the meeting of AIMPLB. The three-day session to be organised on November 18, 19 & 20, 2016 will be held at Myrah Banquet Hall on AJC Boss Road, Beside St. James School, here in Kolkata. The 20th session of the Board was also held in Kolkata in February 2008.

It may be mentioned here that the AIMPLB, an apex body of Indian Muslims, was established in April 1973 when the Government of India was trying to subvert Shariah law applicable to Indian Muslims through parallel legislation. Adoption Bill had been tabled in the Parliament. H.R.Gokhle, the then Federal Law Minister, had termed this Bill as the first step towards the UCC.

On the first day i.e. on November 18th the inaugural session, scheduled after Maghrib prayers, will be marked by the presidential speech to be delivered by AIMPLB chief Maulana Syed Mohammad Rabey Hasani Nadwi. Thereafter, on the conclusion of inaugural function elections will be held for the post of president of AIMPLB, other office-bearers and the executive committee of the board.

According to agenda of the general session on the second day general secretary report will be presented by Maulana Mohammad Wali Rahmani. After this reports of various sub-committees of the AIMPLB will be presented which will be followed by discussions on these.

Member of Parliament Sultan Ahmad, who is president Majlis Istaqbalia (Reception committee), informed that on the last day of the AIMPLB session on Sunday evening after Maghrib prayers a huge public rally will be organized here in Park Circus ground. In the rally Muslim clerics from all over India attending the session will address the public exhorting them to follow the Shariah laws in their daily lives in letter and spirit in order to be successful in this world and hereafter.

The issues of Uniform Civil Code, Waqf Eviction Act, seeking permission of offering Namaz in various Masajids under the supervision of Archaeological Survey of India, female foeticide, social reformations etc. with special focus on observing restraint in pronouncing Talaaq (Divorce) would be deliberated during the AIMPLB session.

The AIMPLB has been resisting attempts by the government to enact and enforce Uniform Civil Code and to enact parallel law to make Shariah Law ineffective. It is also creating awareness in the Muslim community and exhorting them to follow the teachings of Islam and principles and rules of Shariat in all aspect of life particularly in family matters.

The AIMPLB along with all prominent and leading Muslim organizations including Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, Jamaat e Islami Hind, Muslim Majlis e Mushawarat, Milli Council, Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadees as well as all the schools of thought including Deobnad, Barelvi, Ahle Hadith, Shia have rejected the questionnaire prepared by the Law commission on the behest of the Modi government and urged the Muslim community and other religious minority groups to boycott it.