Maulana Fazlur Rehman Urges Swift Action on Madrasah Registration Bill in Call with Prime Minister
JUI-F has issued an ultimatum to the federal govt, demanding the passage of the Madrasah Registration Bill by December 7.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), raised significant concerns regarding the Madrasah Registration Bill during a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday.
JUI-F chief expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the bill, which has faced delays despite being approved by both houses of Parliament. Maulana emphasized the importance of addressing these concerns to prevent the issue from becoming contentious and reiterated that any infringement on the independence of madrasas would not be tolerated.
In his discussions, Maulana Fazlur Rehman highlighted that the bill had been returned by President Asif Ali Zardari due to legal objections, particularly questioning its jurisdictional clarity.
This delay has led to frustrations within JUI-F, with leaders warning of potential protests if the bill is not passed by December 8. Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, JUI-F’s General Secretary, indicated that failure to meet this deadline would compel the party to march towards Islamabad.
Increasing the mounting pressure, JUI-F leader Hafiz Hamdullah took to X to denounce the President’s rejection of the bill, calling it a “declaration of war” and a “slap in the face of parliament.”
Hamdullah raised concerns about whether the President’s actions were intended to create challenges for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, holding the President, Prime Minister, and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari accountable for the bill’s rejection. The situation remains fraught with tension as the December 8th deadline approaches.
During a recent meeting with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Maulana Fazalur Rehman also voiced his concerns about the lack of progress on the bill. Bilawal assured him that he would address the issue with government officials to expedite the approval process.
The situation remains tense as JUI-F seeks to ensure that their demands are met without escalating into larger protests, reflecting broader concerns about the regulation and registration of religious seminaries across Pakistan.
On Dec 3, the bill, which sought to regulate and register religious schools (madrasahs), was returned by President Asif Ali Zardari to the Prime Minister’s Office due to legal concerns.
The bill has encountered significant challenges in the legal review process, with sources revealing that the president questioned its legal validity, particularly the ambiguity surrounding the jurisdiction of the Madrasah Registration Bill.
Notably, the JUI-F chief has warned that if the president does not sign the bill by December 7, he will initiate a protest movement on December 8 in Peshawar.
