After Centre, JUIF steps up efforts for law to register madaris in provinces

ISLAMABAD: After the promulgation of the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act, 2024, by the president last month, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) has prepared a draft bill for the registration of madaris in the provinces.

The religio-political party stepped up efforts for legislation to register Islamic schools in the provinces after the federal government notified the madaris registration bill last month, following its passage in both houses of Parliament.

The proposed act shall be called the Societies Registration Amendment Act, 2025, to pave the way for the registration of unregistered seminaries within six months in the provinces; however, those madrassas already registered with the Centre would not be required to apply for registration again.

The draft law stated that unregistered Islamic schools would register themselves with the directorate under the Ministry of Education, while seminaries with more than one campus would require a single registration.

Under the law proposed by the Maulana Fazlur Rehman-led party, seminaries would submit their audit reports and copies to the registrar. It also sought restrictions on literature containing content that promotes militancy, sectarianism, and religious hatred in madrassas. Subsequently, each seminary would integrate new subjects into its curriculum in phases. This development came after the JUIF chief telephoned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier this month, seeking the latter’s role in resolving the issue of seminaries’ registration in the provinces.

Fazl had apprised the premier that legislation in provincial assemblies was also needed to create a law for the registration of religious seminaries. In response, Shehbaz promised that he would talk to the chief ministers on the matter. The legislation amended the existing procedure for the registration of madrassas with the education ministry.