Karnataka branch of KKMA holds general body meeting, election of office-bearers
Kuwait: The general body meeting of the Karnataka branch of Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association (KKMA), the largest social and community service organization of the Indian diaspora in Kuwait, was held at the Indian Community School Khaitan Auditorium on Friday, February 02.
The meeting started with a beautiful recitation of the Holy Quran by Master Mohammed Saihaan.
Nizam N, Vice-president of the KKMA Central Committee (Social Projects and Benefits), inaugurated the program while Karnataka branch General Secretary Mohammed Amin Sheik delivered the welcome address.
In his presidential address, Branch President Yusuf Rasheed highlighted the achievements of KKMA in various charitable social activities, including Family Benefit Scheme (FBS), Educational Scholarship Program (ESP), Kidney Dialysis Centers (KDC), Medical Assistance Program (MAP), Home for Homeless Deserved Families and Housing Improvement Program (HIP) and Magnet Team Service for the expat patients in Kuwait and repatriation of corpse to their home country. He also appreciated and thanked the team members for their selfless, dedicated service in the charitable activities.
Branch senior leader and Central Committee Development Vice-president Abdul Jabbar Gurpur presented the annual report detailing the past two-year’s activities and achievements of the branch. The finance report, which was presented by branch senior leader and Central Committee CFO Sayed Rafik, was unanimously approved by the members.
Active members of the branch Noushad Hussain, Firoz Abdul Samad, Najmuddin Usman Takey, D M Ansar and Irshad Nazeer Ahmed were felicitated for their excellent performance. Shoukath Shirva Waseem Hisham, Najmuddin and Mabiya Adam were awarded for their contribution to the membership campaign.
The existing committee was dissolved by President Yusuf Rasheed, following which, the new committee for 2024-25 was formed under the supervision of returning officer Muneer Kuniya, Treasurer, KKMA Central Committee. Yusuf Rasheed was unanimously elected as the new president of KKMA Karnataka Branch for the next two years.
The newly elected president Yusuf Rasheed expressed his gratitude for the opportunity provided by KKMA. He also thanked the State President SM Farook for his selfless service and sincere support in implementing the various socio-community services back home.
KKMA Karnataka Branch senior leader and Central Committee working president BM Iqbal briefed the various privileges available for KKMA members in Kuwait as well as in India from the various business firms such as clinics, hospitals and hypermarkets.
State President SM Farook, in his message after the election, congratulated the new office-bearers and highlighted the importance of charity and team work. One of the senior well-known social worker Janab Hassan Yusuf Kankanady complimented the newly elected management committee, and stressed on the importance of teamwork as it makes 'dream work'.
The new office-bearers of all six zones of the Karnataka Branch were introduced on the occasion. Senior leaders Mohammed Nazeer Bolar, Azhar Sheik, Syed Manipur, Abdul Latheef Shedia Nasser AV, Abdul Rahiman and audience members Mohammad Yusuf, Abdul Razzak and Abdul Sattar congratulated the new committee and extended their support.
KKMA Central President Ibrahim Kunil, General Secretary KC Rafiq, City Zonal Secretary Mohammed Rayies also graced the occasion.
The program was compered by Abdul Jabbar while FBS Vice-president Mohammed Yusuf Muniyam proposed the vote of thanks.
A large number of members, leaders and well-wishers attended the event, which was followed by a buffet dinner.
The newly appointed office-bearers for the year 2024-2025 are as follows:
Yusuf Rasheed – President
Abdul Rahiman Kana – Working President
Mohammed Amin Sheik – General Secretary
Sharief Ahmed Mulki – Treasurer
Vice-presidents:
Abdul Azeez Ghouse –Membership, Health Scheme, Privilege Card
Mohammed Yusuf Muniyam – FBS, MWS
Naushad Hussain – Relief Cell, KDRC
Mohammed Noufal – Magnet, Legal Cell, Employment Cell
Imthiyaz Abdul Kareem Surinje –Arts & Sports, Event Management
Hashim Ramlan – Skill Development, Moral Development (Religious)
Mabiya Adam Kadaba – Students Development, Family Club
Secretaries:
Shoukath Hussain Abba Shirva – Administration
Irshad Mulki – Communication
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'Even Ajmal Kasab was given a fair trial': SC remarks in Yasin Malik case
New Delhi, Nov 21: Even Ajmal Kasab was given a fair trial in our country, the Supreme Court on Thursday remarked and indicated it may set up a courtroom inside Tihar Jail for the trial of J&K separatist leader Yasin Malik in a kidnapping case.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih was hearing a CBI plea against the September 20, 2022 order of a Jammu trial court that directed Malik, serving life term in Tihar jail, to be produced before it physically to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses in the kidnapping case of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of politician Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
The bench, however, remarked, "How will cross-examination be done online? There is hardly any connectivity in Jammu... In our country, a fair trial was given even to Ajmal Kasab and legal assistance was given to him in the high court."
Kasab, the lone Pakistani gunman caught alive after the Mumbai terror attack, was hanged till death at the Yerawada Central Prison .
The bench told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, to take instructions on the total number of witnesses in the case.
Mehta pointed out security concerns and said Malik couldn't be taken to Jammu for the trial.
The law officer accused Malik of "playing tricks" for having asked to appear personally and not engaging a lawyer. Mehta said Malik was not an ordinary criminal and showed a purported photograph of Malik sharing the dais with terrorist Hafiz Saeed.
The top court said it could order trial to take place inside the jail premises and ask the judge to come to the national capital for the proceedings.
The bench, however, noted all the accused persons in the matter had to be heard before it passes an order.
Mehta said Malik appearing in the Supreme Court physically raised security concerns previously.
The bench said Malik could be allowed to appear virtually in the apex court proceedings and posted the matter on November 28.
The CBI in the meantime was directed to amend its petition and implead all accused persons as respondents.
In 2023, Mehta wrote to then Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla flagging a "serious security lapse" after Malik was brought to the Supreme Court to appear in a case.
Malik, serving life sentence in a terror-funding case, was brought to the high-security apex court premises in a prison van escorted by armed security personnel without the court's permission.
Expressing surprise at his presence, Mehta informed the apex court there was a procedure for high-risk convicts to be allowed into the courtroom to argue their case personally.
The CBI said Malik, the top leader of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), was a threat to national security and cannot be allowed to be taken outside the Tihar jail premises.
The apex court on April 24, 2023, issued notices on the CBI's appeal following which the incarcerated JKLF chief wrote a letter to the registrar of the Supreme Court on May 26, 2023 seeking permission to appear in person to plead his case.
An assistant registrar took up his request on July 18, 2023 and said the apex court would pass necessary orders -- a decision the Tihar Jail authorities reportedly misconstrued to allow Malik to appear and argue his case.
Mehta referred to the CBI's contention in its appeal against the trial court order to bring Malik to Jammu for the in-person examination of the witnesses in the kidnapping case, and said under Section 268 of the CrPC a state government may direct certain people to not be shifted from the confines of a prison.
On September 20, 2022, a special TADA court in Jammu directed Malik to be physically produced before it on the next hearing for him to cross-examine prosecution witnesses in the kidnapping case.
The CBI challenged the trial court order before the Supreme Court as appeals in TADA cases are only heard by the top court.
Rubaiya was abducted near Lal Ded Hospital in Srinagar on December 8, 1989 and freed five days later after the then BJP-backed V P Singh government at the Centre released five terrorists in exchange.
Mufti, who now lives in Tamil Nadu, is a prosecution witness of the CBI, which took over the case in early 1990s.
Malik is lodged in Tihar jail after he was sentenced by a special NIA court in May, 2023 in a terror-funding case.
