President signs madrasa registration bill into law, finally

ISLAMABAD: The contentious issue of registration of religious seminaries was resolved on Sunday finally when President Asif Ali Zardari gave his assent to the Societies Registration Act 2024. With the president’s signature, the bill for registration of religious schools was turned into a law.

On the advice of the prime minister, the president approved the summary of the bill. The gazette notification of the Societies Registration Amendment Act 2024 was also notified.

The Societies Registration Amendment Act bill was passed by the Senate on October 20 and the National Assembly on October 21. According to the National Assembly spokesperson, with the president’s signature, the bill had become a law. The spokesperson stated that under the law, the registration of madrasas would be carried out in accordance with the Societies Act, and the matter had been resolved through mutual understanding.

President Asif Zardari also promulgated the Societies Registration Amendment Ordinance. Amendments have been made to subsections 5, 6, and 7 of the Act through the ordinance. On the recommendation of PM Shehbaz Sharif, the president approved the summary of the ordinance.

As per the Societies Registration Amendment Ordinance, promulgated by the president, applicable only to the Islamabad’s jurisdiction, madrasas would have the discretion to register either with the education ministry or the industries ministry.

On Saturday, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUIF) Sindh General Secretary Maulana Rashid Soomro met President Zardari in Larkana. PPP Chairman Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari was also present. Apart from the political situation, there was a detailed discussion between the PPP and JUIF Sindh leaders on the madrasa registration bill. Zardari had promised to address Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s concerns on the Madrasa Bill and resolve the matter as soon as possible.

A few days ago, PM Shehbaz Sharif met Maulana Fazlur Rehman on the issue of registration of religious schools and assured him of full cooperation.

Earlier, President Zardari had objected to the Societies Registration Act for registration of religious schools, approved by the National Assembly and Senate, and sent it back.

According to the National Assembly Secretariat notification, on receiving the assent of President to the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act, 2024, every madrasa would not operate without getting itself registered under the Act, namely: the “Deeni Madrisa in existence before the commencement of the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act, 2024, (xxx V of 2024), if not already registered, shall get itself registered under this Act within six months from commencement of the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act, 2024 (xxxVII/ of 2024);

“And a Deeni Madrisa established after commencement of the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act, 2024, (x/ of 2024), shall get itself registered under this Act within one year of it establishment.

“A Deeni Madrisa having more than one campus shall need only one registration.

“(2) Every Deeni Madrisa shall submit to the Registrar annual report of its educational activities.

“(3) Every Deeni Madrisa shall cause to be carried out audit of its accounts by an auditor and submit a copy of its audit report to the Registrar.

“(4) No Deeni Madrisa shall teach or publish any literature which promotes militancy or spreads sectarianism or religious hatred: Provided that nothing contained herein shall bar the comparative study of various religions or schools of thought or the study of any other subject covered by the Holy Quran, Sunnah or the Islamic jurisprudence.

“(5) Every Deeni Madrisa shall, subject to their resources, include basic contemporary subjects in their curriculum according to a phased program.

“(6) For registration of Deeni Madrisa under this Act, no Deeni Madrasa shall be required to register itself under any other law for the time being in force.

“(7) Once registered under this Act, no Deeni Madrisa shall be required to be registered under any other law whatsoever for the time being enforce.

“Explanation- In this section “Deeni Madrisa” means a religious institution and includes a Jamia or Dar-ul-Uloom, called by any other name, established or operated primarily for the purposes of imparting religious education, which provides boarding and lodging facilities.”

As per the Societies Registration Amendment Ordinance promulgated by the president, applicable only to the Islamabad’s jurisdiction, madrasas will have the discretion to register either with the education ministry or the industries ministry.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi reacted to President Asif Ali Zardari’s signing of the Society Registration Act 2024 on Sunday saying that after the presidential ordinance on madrasa registration, the issue had been resolved and disagreement ended. He said that madrasas could be registered with both the Ministry of Education and under the Societies Act, and the government had not interfered in the freedom and autonomy of madaris.

Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islami-F (JUIF), while expressing satisfaction over the gazette notification of the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act, 2024, has maintained that party leadership will continue to ensure protection of autonomy and freedom of Deeni Madaris at all costs. “We will not compromise on autonomy of Deeni Madaris and will face every challenge for the cause,” JUIF spokesman Aslam Ghori in a statement Sunday said.

He said that it was the categorical message of JUIF leadership that safeguarding autonomy and freedom of Deeni Madaris was its faith and would continue to stand with forces struggling for the cause. Deeni Madaris were not only forts of Islam but those were custodians of the country’s ideological boundaries. “It is our duty to admit this reality and importance of Madaris,” he said.

The JUIF spokesman termed the Societies Registration (Amendment) bill, 2024 becoming as an Act of the Parliament and issuance of gazette notification of the same as a big success owing to unity among the country’s Ulema and religious seminaries. He said the Deeni Madaris would get fresh and strong legal protection due to JUIF’s consistent struggle. “ It is because of Grace of Almighty Allah that we paved the way for protection of Deeni Madaris,” he said. He said the whole nation, JUIF workers and leaders of Ittehad Tanzeemat Madaris deserved congratulations.