What changes is Pakistan going to make in Madrassas, religious organizations clash with the government

Madrasa Bill: The standoff continues between the Government of Pakistan and a religious-political party over the bill related to the registration of religious madrassas. The officials said that they would not succumb to political pressure. The Societies Registration (Amendment) Act, 2024 has already been passed by both houses of the Parliament but is now in limbo, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has already banned Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F). It was assured that this would become law.

The passage of this bill was widely reported to be one of the conditions on which the JUI-F supported the coalition government and was able to achieve the required two-thirds majority in Parliament to pass the 26th Constitutional Amendment in October. has helped. Although the bill has been approved by Parliament, it now needs presidential assent to become law, but President Asif Ali Zardari returned the bill to the Prime Minister’s Office earlier this month citing legal objections Was.

What does the new bill on madrassas say?

The main issue is that the new bill amends the existing process of registering madrassas with the Education Ministry and says that the institutions should be affiliated with the Industry Ministry. “This is a country’s decision and we will not bow to political pressure,” Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said during a meeting with religious leaders on madrassa reforms, as the decision to register madrassas with the education ministry was taken unanimously in 2019. was taken and will remain in force until religious scholars collectively decide to change it.”

Addressing the meeting, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said “extensive discussions” were being held to find a solution acceptable to all stakeholders. Tarar said, “In this meeting we have taken into consideration the suggestions of religious scholars from across Pakistan and will discuss them within the government, as well as hold talks with the JUI-F to find a mutually acceptable solution.”

Religious Affairs Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain, who attended the meeting, said that the purpose of registering religious madrassas under the Education Ministry is to provide contemporary education to the students in such institutions. “We want them (madrasa students) to become doctors, engineers, pilots and pursue other professions along with receiving religious education,” he said.

JUI-F gave this threat

However, JUI-F has threatened to take out a protest march to the capital if the bill is not made a law. JUI-F senator Kamran Murtaza said his party has called a meeting of Ittehadul Madaris, a group of madrassas representing major ideologies, on December 17 to discuss the issue.

“We will decide on further action in that meeting,” he said, according to Arab News. “We hope that the government will act responsibly and fulfill its commitments, otherwise we will resort to all means, including marching to Islamabad.” “

Addressing Monday’s meeting, Director General of Religious Education Ghulam Qamar said that since 2019, 18,600 madrassas have registered with the Education Ministry. “We are also providing teachers to the seminaries and this year, 2,500 students of the seminaries were provided technical training,” he said.

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