Fazl urges govt to avoid politicising seminaries' issue
Pakistan
Says seminaries are given the freedom to affiliate under the 1860 Act or the Ministry of Education.
CHARSADDA (Dunya News) – Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Monday asked the government to avoid politicising the issue of seminaries.
Speaking at a press conference, he asserted that the struggle for the autonomy of seminaries was a collective cause for all scholars and religious institutions.
He stressed the importance of safeguarding religious education, including Quranic studies, Fiqh, and Hadith, while condemning attempts to create divisions among scholars.
Rehman accused institutions of interfering in the Madrasa Registration Bill, which had previously been passed with consensus.
He highlighted that seminaries were given the freedom to affiliate under the 1860 Act or the Ministry of Education.
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He reiterated his commitment to safeguarding the independence of seminaries while advocating their registration in a fair manner.
RELIGIOUS SCHOLARS HOLD CONFERENCE
Ulema and Mashaikh held an important meeting regarding the registration and reforms in seminaries in Islamabad on Monday.
Addressing the participants, Director General of Religious Education Ghulam Qamar said it was a consensus decision that the seminaries of all schools of thought would register themselves with the directorate general of religious education.
Recognising the role of seminaries in education of children of poor segments of society, the director general said 18,600 seminaries had got themselves registered.
He said "we are also providing teachers to the seminaries.
“We provided technical training to 2,500 students of seminaries,” he said.
Religious scholars from all schools of thought also attended the meeting.
Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussian, Minister for Education Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi also spoke.
Earlier, Mohsin Naqvi visited Jamia Ashrafia and met patron-in-chief of Wifaq-ul-Madaris Maulana Fazl Rahim Ashrafi.
During the meeting, a detailed discussion was held regarding the bill relating to the religious seminaries.
The interior minister expressed gratitude to Maulana Fazl Rahim for assuring a positive role regarding matters pertaining to the seminaries.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif consulted Nawaz Sharif over the issue of seminaries bill.
