F.P. Report
D I KHAN: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has warned the government of nationwide protests if the notification for the Madrasa Registration Bill is not issued promptly.
Addressing a press conference, he emphasised that, under the constitution, a bill automatically becomes an act if not signed within 10 days. He criticised the government for delaying the notification despite the bill’s unanimous approval in both houses of Parliament.
Fazlur Rehman pointed out that the draft, presented by the Ministry of Law, was agreed upon during discussions on the 26th Constitutional Amendment, with the involvement of major parties, including the PML-N and PPP. He raised concerns about institutional interference in decision-making processes and expressed alarm over the deteriorating law and order situation in the southern districts, accusing the government of driving the country towards chaos.
The JUI-F chief announced a party meeting on December 16 and hinted at the possibility of pursuing legal action if the issue remains unresolved. Fazl also lambasted the government and the institutions for their “non-serious attitude” towards significant issues, saying that they were “ridiculing” the Constitution, law and his party.
He pointed out that the draft was chalked out by the Ministry of Law — which he said JUI-F accepted despite reservation, asking what “scope of objection” President Zardari has on this legislation. Referring to the recently-held Ulema conference, he told the religious scholars that those who “incited you are the ones responsible for the madrassa bill issue”.
He further said that the agreement, reached between the government and the JUI-F, states that bank accounts of all madrassas should be opened. “Tell us, has the account of any seminary of the Wifaq Ul Madaris opened?” The much-discussed legislation is an amended version of the Societies Registration Act, 1860, which emphasised the registration of madrassas (Islamic seminaries) in existence “within six months” from its enactment.
It also stated that a Deeni Madrassa established after the commencement of the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act, 2024, shall get itself registered “within one year of its establishment”. A seminary having more than one campus shall need only one registration, it read. Subsequently, each madrassa would be bound to submit its annual report of its educational activities and audit report to a registrar. Under the law, a Deeni Madrassa was defined as a religious institution established or operated primarily to impart religious education, which provides boarding and lodging facilities.
