Locks have been changed at a Blackburn community centre after an ex-president accused people of ‘dishonest conduct’ after he was ousted from his role.

A councillor has now called for any ‘issues to be resolved’ at the Kashmiri Association as the closure of the building is ‘a great detriment to the local community’.

The building in Whalley Range has been closed for several days and a sign was posted in the windows, after its alleged owner, Jawaid Iqbal, changed the locks and is refusing certain people entry, leading him to be compared to former US president Donald Trump.

The Kashmiri Association is a charity which occupies the building and has done so for nearly 40 years.

It is believed Mr Iqbal, the former president, who is not a trustee but whose name is said to be on the land registry, closed the building following meetings and a resolution which removed him from office. Three others names are believed to be on the land deeds too.

The row escalated further this week when a notice signed by Mr Iqbal and board member Ajmal Barlas was posted in the building's window, which told people locks had been changed to ‘preserve the community and its association’.

Anyone wanting further information was asked to call two mobile numbers.

Police were called to the site by members wanting to move some of their possessions but were told they were unable to enter the building.

The centre had been hosting classes and other events, and a tuition group had purchased laptops and other equipment to carry out these tasks.

Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph, Ajmal Barlas was keen to clarify concerns.

He said: “The property belongs to the Kashmiri Association and the land owners.

“Our hand has been forced concerning recent events.

“All we are asking if anyone wishes to remove any content from the building they simply show the receipts to show who purchased the goods?

“We are happy to return anything that can be proven, ie receipt or invoices for said purchases.

“No classes will be permitted until the above concerns can be clarified and the police carry out their investigation into the alleged discrepancies.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

Local members hit back, saying the closure was akin to Donald Trump refusing to accept ‘his time was up’.

One member said: “It is a sad state of affairs for the local community and it is very much like Trump not accepting a decision.”

Members of the Kashmiri Association committee flatly denied any allegations of wrongdoing and said procedures had been followed after Mr Iqbal was removed for allegations of ‘gross misconduct’.

An official spokesperson from the Kashmiri Association Blackburn said Mr Iqbal’s membership was terminated last month.

He said: “This meant he was no longer a trustee nor a president of the organisation. 

“These changes were actioned as per Charity Commission guidelines and all persons involved in the organisation were made aware.”

The spokesperson said the locks have been changed, meaning members of the association are unable to access the building, and the notice was posted in the windows.

He added: “By doing so, he (Mr Iqbal) has halted all the community work and projects that are being carried out by the several organisations that use the centre.

“Currently the centre is being used by the Dawat-e-Islami to deliver a full time Aalima course to young ladies, and they use the centre in the evenings to deliver a part time Aalim course to young men.

“We also have maths and English tuition classes. 

“Other community centre based bookings for mendhis (pre-wedding events), parties, etc, have been directly impacted as a result too.  

“The Kashmiri Association Blackburn believe that Jawaid Iqbal and Ajmal Barlas' actions have caused a detriment to the wider community. 

“We urge all the local community to support us in reopening the centre as soon as possible and the legal guardians, the management committee as well as the trustees, be allowed to continue their work.”

Bastwell and Daisyfield Councillor, Shaukat Hussian, said: “I’ve been made aware that the Kashmiri Association Centre based on Whalley Range has been closed. 

“I’m not fully aware of the circumstances behind its closure other that to say it’s been in the heart of the community for decades and has always been a focal point in the Bastwell and Daisyfield ward.

“On the back of the Daisyfield swimming pool closure this is a huge hit for the community especially for the Bastwell and Daisyfield Ward.

"I hope the issues whatever they maybe can be resolved and the centre can open up for the public very soon.”

Mr Iqbal was approached for comment.