Ulema moot rejects change to 2019 madrassa accord

ISLAMABAD/ CHARSADDA/LAHORE/RAWALPINDI: Digging their heels in, Ulema belonging to various schools-of-thought Monday said no change was acceptable to the 2019 Madrassa registration agreement and that the education ministry should deal with their registration.

Speaking at a conference on ‘Positive Impact of Madrassa Registration under Directorate General of Religious Education (DGRE)’ here, Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Maulana Tahir Ashrafi said the larger institutions with which thousands of madrassas were affiliated should be given the right to set up their own boards.

The conference was attended by Education Minister Khalid Maqbool, Religious Affairs Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Director General Religious Education Major General (retd) Ghulam Qamar, Allama Tahir Ashrafi, Dr. Raghib Naeemi, Maulana Abdul Karim Azad, Mufti Abdul Rahim, Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, Fazlur Rehman Khalil and Allama Ibtisam Elahi Zaheer.

Ashrafi said the education imparted to the students at madrassas should be accepted at the government level. He said the 2019 agreement bore the signatures of Mufti Taqi Usmani, Mufti Rahim, Qari Hanif Jalandhri, Professor Sajid Mir, Yasin Zafar, Abdul Majid, Dr Atta-ur-Rehman and Haider Najfi.

From the government side, Shafqat Mehmood and the then education secretary Arshad Mirza had signed the agreement.Allama Tahir Ashrafi said it was possible that someone in the field of politics had more manpower, but in the field of madrassas, this forum had a manpower of millions.

“If the government is faced with the issue of bringing 10,000 people, then the scholars sitting here have enough madrassas in Islamabad to bring 25,000 to 30,000 people. We do not want convoys and demonstrations; we want to see education as education and politicians in the field of politics,” Ashrafi said.

Allama Jawad Naqvi said madrassas were educational institutions and these should be affiliated with the education ministry. He suggested that the government should sit with the JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman to address the issue.

Geo reports: Director General Religious Education Major General (retd) Ghulam Qamar said madrassas played a major role in the history of the Subcontinent.He said the form issued for madrassas contained all the details.

“This form comes to us from the madrasas after various verifications. We have to bring madrassas into the mainstream and support the education system. We have offices in every corner of the country. Our members go from street to street and check the madrassas. There is no gap between the Directorate of Religious Education and the madrasas.”

Allama Raghib Naeemi said madrassa system was no longer threatened by any external agenda and the madrassas should be affiliated with the education ministry.Mufti Abdur Rahim suggested that the madrasas wanting to be affiliated with the Ministry of Industries and Commerce should be allowed to opt for the option.

“As many as 18,000 madrasas should not be disturbed, as it will cause harm,” he cautioned.A resolution — presented by Tahir Ashrafi — was unanimously passed in the gathering of Madrassa Arabia.

The resolution demanded that the government maintain the current madrassa system and that the madrassas should be kept associated with the education system.The resolution stated that the government should not change or abolish this system under any pressure. It said the future of millions of students was linked with this system and their future should not be played with.

The resolution said no attempt to change the current system would be acceptable under any circumstances, and the government should not come under any kind of pressure in this regard.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Religious Affairs Salik Hussain stressed the importance of integrating both religious and technical education for madrassa students, highlighting its potential to bring a positive change in the society.

Sabz Ali Tareen from Charsadda reports: In a related development, JUI-F chief Fazlur Rahman Monday accused the government of conspiring to divide the Ulema over the madrassa registration bill.

Talking to the media at the residence of former provincial law minister Barrister Arshad Abdullah in Utmanzai, he expressed concern over the government’s approach to the bill.He was accompanied by the JUI-F leaders, including former MNA Maulana Gohar Shah and provincial and district leaders of the party.

“During discussions on the 26th Amendment, month-long negotiations were held, and all political parties in parliament reached a consensus on the madrassa bill. The bill was passed by both the National Assembly and the Senate. However, the president raised objections and refused to sign the section concerning madrassas registration,” he said.

The JUI-F chief further said the draft legislation provided the religious schools with the freedom to register under the Societies Act of 1860 or with the Ministry of Education.“Despite this flexibility, the bill is being made controversial to pit the religious scholars against one another. We will never allow madrassas to be placed under the control of any ministry,” he asserted.

He also criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for not voting in favour of the bill.APP adds: Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar Monday said extensive consultations were being held to find out a solution to the seminaries’ registration issue acceptable to all stakeholders.

Speaking at a conference on madrassa registration and reforms in Islamabad, he said the objective of the legislation was to bring the seminaries into the national mainstream, besides eradicating some negative perceptions in this regard.The most important aspect of that system was to ensure that the students graduating from seminaries were not discriminated against and got equal opportunities, he added.

“Registration of 18,000 madrasahs is the result of the efforts of the Department of Religious Education,” he said, adding that the efforts of director general of religious education were worth appreciation.

About the Madrassa Bill, he said it could not become a law due to some legal complications.He said suggestions given by the scholars had been noted, and the final solution would be found after thorough consultations.

About Jamiat Ulema-e Islam Amir Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the minister said he was a respectable leader and his suggestions would be given due importance and a solution would eventually be found.

He stated that a separate meeting would be held in this regard soon.INP reports: Meanwhile, Wafaq ul Madaris Patron-in-Chief Maulana Fazl Raheem Ashrafi Monday assured Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi of his positive role in addressing the concerns about the proposed Madrassa Bill.

The assurance came during a meeting held at Jamia Ashrafia, Lahore.Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited the Jamia and held an exclusive meeting with Maulana Fazl Raheem.

The minister discussed the proposed bill in detail with Maulana Fazl Raheem emphasising the importance of depoliticising madrassas and focusing on constructive resolutions.Maulana Fazl Raheem categorically said the issues surrounding the madrassas should not be politicized and assured the interior minister of positive role of Wafaq ul Madaris in addressing the concerns about the bill.

Mumtaz Alvi adds: PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Monday said their agreement on madrassa registration in 2019 was valid, and his party still adhered to it.Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, he underlined the need for registration of seminaries, adding that this could help stop activities against the country’s laws, and children should also be taught modern sciences in madrasas.

He emphasized that it was agreed with the JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman to work together on legislation and keep talking.Gohar pointed out that during its government, the PTI had unanimously signed an agreement with the Madrasa Alliance, and they still adhered to it. However, he said it was also necessary to regulate the role of madrasas.