Alleging that the All India Muslim Personal Law Board has neglected their interests and ignored their problems, the Shia community is contemplating having a separate body.

"We have gone far ahead in our pursuit to constitute a separate body and the possibility of a rapprochement with the All India Personal Law Board is out of the question," chairman of the proposed all-India Shia personal law board co-ordination committee, Maulana Mirza Mohammed Athar told reporters in Lucknow on Tuesday.

Accusing the AIMPLB of neglecting the Shia community and ignoring their problems, Athar said, "We were left with no option but to ponder over constituting a separate personal law board."

Almost all the Shia ulemas (preachers) across the county whom he had contacted welcomed the proposed board. He expects to receive their written consent within a month.

Rejecting allegations that the Shia community was causing damage to Muslim unity, he pointed out that a breakaway group of the Bareilvi sect had already formed a separate board.