Fresh inquiry ordered in shrine dispute

Railways says shrine income funds staff families; Auqaf claims admin control

RAWALPINDI:

A long-running ownership dispute over the shrine of Baba Syed Masoom Shah on Railway Road has entered its final stages as a latest inquiry has been ordered to establish ownership between the Railways and Auqaf departments.

The historic shrine, which generates an annual income of between Rs18.5 million and Rs20m, has been at the centre of contention for nearly two decades.

To determine its lawful ownership, the Commissioner of Rawalpindi, Aamir Khattak, has appointed the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) as inquiry officer, directing him to conduct an immediate investigation and establish the shrine's ownership.

Acting on the commissioner's orders, the inquiry officer has issued letters to Pakistan Railways' Rawalpindi Division and the Auqaf Department, seeking documentary evidence and records supporting their respective claims to the shrine of Syed Masoom Shah.

According to sources, the Additional Deputy Commissioner will first obtain written submissions, supporting documents and evidence from both departments and scrutinise them independently. Thereafter, authorised officers and experts from the two institutions will be summoned to present their positions and arguments, and will be subject to cross-questioning.

Sources say the shrine attracts a large number of devotees and generates annual revenue of up to Rs20m. Pakistan Railways maintains that the shrine stands on railway-owned land and therefore falls under its ownership, with the income utilised for the welfare of railway employees' children and widows.