HYDERABAD: In an unusual move, the Wakf Board decided on February 18 to write to the government to hand over Ahmediya properties in their possession to the endowments department. This is the first time the board has decided to transfer the custody of places of worship to another government entity since its inception. The board also decided to take over the disputed mosque in Falaknuma from members of the Ahmediya community which it claims belongs to the board.Eight Ahmediya mosques with the board will be given to the endowments department. Chairman of Wakf Board Syed Ghulam Afzal Biyabani said, “We have unanimously decided to give possession of three mosques in Hyderabad, three mosques in Mahboobnagar and two in Khammam to the endowments department. Also, we intend to take possession of the masjid and graveyard near the Falaknuma railway station currently with the Ahmediyas through legal course.” Sources from the board claim that gazetted records are available with them to prove that the mosque belong to the board and is in fact a Sunni masjid.Sources from the Wakf Board say that the spirit of the decision comes from the fact that the Ahmediyas do not follow the Quran and are not permitted in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. Therefore, the decision to transfer properties to the endowments department was made.