Islamabad: The Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), Allama Raghib Naeemi, has urged that the issue of madrassas should remain an educational matter and not be turned into a political battleground. Speaking at a meeting on madrassa registration and reforms in Islamabad, he emphasized that madrassas face no external threats and should be linked with the Ministry of Education. He reiterated that the focus must remain on educational reforms rather than politicizing the issue.
During the meeting, Allama Tahir Ashrafi highlighted that the decision to establish new madrassa boards was made in 2019, and those boards are now functioning effectively. He rejected concerns about compromises on madrassa autonomy, stating that unfounded fears are being propagated about external agendas influencing these institutions.
Meanwhile, Director General of Religious Education Ghulam Qamar explained that a formal agreement regarding madrassas was reached following a cabinet decision. He noted that it was agreed to affiliate all madrassas with the Directorate of Religious Education, with the aim of integrating them into the national educational framework and supporting the broader education system.
This comes as political tensions rise, with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman issuing a deadline to the government for amendments to the madrassa registration bill by tomorrow. The developments underscore the delicate balancing act between educational reforms and religious sensitivities in the country.
