US wants to punish seminaries for defeat in Afghanistan, says Samiul Haq

NOWSHERA: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) chief Maulana Samiul Haq Saturday said the western countries and United States wanted to punish religious seminaries for their defeat in Afghanistan.
Talking to reporters, he said the West and US have realised that they cannot succeeded in their nefarious designs in presence of the religious institutions. He said the religious seminaries and mosques had no link with terrorism and extremism.
He said the foreign funding to madaris was a hot topic nowadays and his seminary Darul Uloom Haqqania was also accused of receiving foreign funds. “I challenge the interior ministry and other institutions to provide evidence of foreign funding to Madrassa-i- Haqqania. I am ready for any punishment if allegations of foreign funding to the seminary are proved,” he added.
He said the Wafaqul Madaris had held several meetings with previous governments and the matters relating to registration of seminaries, financial matters and syllabus had been settled.
About the Shikarpur imambargah bombing in which 60 persons were killed and 49 others injured, Samiul Haq said it was not an act of sectarianism but of terrorism.
He said anti-state elements were behind the attack and were trying to pit the Sunnis and Shias against each other. He said the Sunnis donated blood for those injured in the attack. He alleged that the US was now sponsoring the Islamic State to promote its interests in the region.