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he Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) has threatened to launch a protest movement after President Asif Ali Zardari refused to sign the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act, 2024 on madrassah management and registration approved by the parliament.
Prior to 2019, religious seminaries used to be registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. In 2019, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government introduced the law to put them under the Education Ministry. The law was made after lengthy deliberations involving the government, security agencies, provincial governments and other stake holders. A joint body of madrassa managements also agreed to its provisions. However, the JUI-F, a stanch opponent of the PTI, rejected the law and refused to place the thousands of seminaries it manages under the Education Departments. It also opposed a PTI scheme to mainstream religious seminaries.
“This was American agenda. After 9/11 and the War on Terror and foreign powers wanted to keep a check on religious seminaries. They tried this during Pervez Musharraf’s regime. We have been resisting this for long,” Aslam Ghauri, a JUI-F leader says, adding, “This government promised to amend this law. Now they have backed out,” he adds.
The new bill was unanimously passed by the parliament this October. The statement of objectives and reasons of the bills says that “Deeni Madaris play a pivotal role in imparting religious education. At the same time, such Deeni Madaris are required to register under an enactment to check their activities in appropriate manner. However, certain serious issues have been noticed in registration of Deeni Madaris in the absence of proper legislation. Therefore, it is expedient to provide for registration of the Deeni Madaris under the umbrella of an enactment.”
The JUI-F wants to change the procedure so that the seminaries can register under the Societies Registration Act.
The JUI-F wants to change the procedure for registration. It wants the seminaries to register under the Societies Registration Act. That way respective deputy commissioners can register/ un-list a seminary, maintain their record and audit their affairs.
A few days ago, President Zardari, sent the bill back to the Prime Minister’s Office with certain objections, saying it lacked clarity regarding the jurisdiction of madrasah registration. As a result, the bill has to go through a joint-sitting of the parliament. The joint sitting can pass the bill with or without incorporating the president’s advice or keep it pending.
Currently, the registration of madrasahs falls under the purview of the Education Departments.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman had set a December 8 deadline for the government to approve the seminary registration bill. The minister for religious affairs has sought more time to address the president’s objections. A JUI-F meeting is scheduled on December 17 to deciding the party’s future strategy.
“We do not want confrontation with the state but the government is pushing the seminaries to the wall,” he has said recently.
Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain says the registration of seminaries is a long-standing requirement. “It might take some time. I hope we will soon resolve the issue with the help of the JUI-F.”
The author is a staff reporter. He can be reached at vaqargillani@gmail.com. He tweets at @waqargillani