Madrassa registration bill: Govt ‘agrees to notify contentious legislation in a few days’


JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman calls on PM Shehbaz Sharif on December 20, 2024. — Facebook/@juipakofficial
  • Govt to “register seminaries under Societies Registration Act”.
  • Decides taking all clerics in confidence over legislation.
  • Fazl hinted at “good news” on madrassa bill after meeting Shehbaz.

In a major breakthrough a day after a key meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the federal government has “accepted all demands of the Ittehad Tanzeemat-e-Madaris Deenia (ITMD)” regarding the contentious madrassa registration bill. 

The development came during the meeting between PM Shehbaz and a Fazl-led delegation a day ago, sources closer to the JUI-F told Geo News, adding that the government “assured to register all madrassas under Societies Registration Act, 1860”.

The government “is expected to issue a gazette notification of the draft [legislation] passed in light of the 26th Constitutional Amendment in a few days”, the sources added.

Subsequently, the Shehbaz’s administration also decided to take other clerics in confidence over the legislation who were willing to register seminaries with the education ministry.

After meeting the premier yesterday, the cleric had expressed optimism about the approval of the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill 2024 as PM Shehbaz ordered the authorities concerned to resolve the matter swiftly.

The meeting was attended by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, PM’s aide Rana Sanaullah and Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan.

Meanwhile, Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Senator Kamran Murtaza, Raja Pervez Ashraf and Qamar Zaman Kaira were also present on the occasion.

The disputed madrassa bill, which has already been passed by both houses of parliament, has become a bone of contention between the JUI-F and the government.

The new bill amends the existing procedure for registration of madrassas with the education ministry, stating that the institutions should be affiliated with the industries ministry instead.

Its enactment was part of an agreement between the government and the religio-political party for supporting the 26th Amendment, Fazl had said previously.

Following its approval from parliament, the bill now requires the president’s assent to become law but President Asif Ali Zardari had returned the bill earlier this month, citing legal objections. According to the Constitution, the bill must be tabled before a joint sitting after the president refuses to sign.

As per the sources, the president raised eight objections over the bill Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill 2024, under which madrassas would be registered.

President Zardari expressed fear that if the madrassa bill turns into a law, seminaries will be registered under the Societies Act, which may lead to imposition of Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), and other sanctions on the country.

He objected that by registering madrassas as societies, they could be used for purposes other than education; there was a contradiction in the definition of madrassa in various clauses of the bill.

The president suggested to the members of the assembly that international issues should be taken into account while drafting a bill related to madrassas.





Source link

  • Related Posts

    ‘Constructive step’: PTI-govt dialogue begins today after much ado

    PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq pictured during a meeting in this undated image. — X@NAofPakistan PTI yet to call off its currently postponed civil…

    Pakistan whitewash South Africa in ODI series on their home turf

    Pakistan defeated South Africa by 36 runs in the third and final one-day international (ODI) at Wanderers Stadium, Sandton on Sunday to complete a historic ODI whitewash against the Proteas…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    SOF Results 2024-25 for NSO, IMO Level 1 Anytime Soon at sofworld.org, Steps to Download Olympiad Scorecard Here

    • By
    • 0 views
    SOF Results 2024-25 for NSO, IMO Level 1 Anytime Soon at sofworld.org, Steps to Download Olympiad Scorecard Here

    I wake up at 3am to bake 29,000 mince pies every Christmas

    • By
    • 0 views
    I wake up at 3am to bake 29,000 mince pies every Christmas

    PSX jumps over 2,000 points amid political stability

    • By
    • 0 views
    PSX jumps over 2,000 points amid political stability

    Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains to be tweaked for India’s first Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor – details here – Times of India

    • By
    • 0 views
    Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains to be tweaked for India’s first Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor – details here – Times of India

    Radhika Merchant Ambani just redefined modern bridal fashion with innovative mangalsutra styling | – Times of India

    • By
    • 0 views
    Radhika Merchant Ambani just redefined modern bridal fashion with innovative mangalsutra styling | – Times of India

    Trump Names Crypto-Friendly Stephen Miran as Chair of Council of Economic Advisers

    • By
    • 0 views
    Trump Names Crypto-Friendly Stephen Miran as Chair of Council of Economic Advisers