Islamabad: Detailed objections from President Dr. Arif Alvi regarding the Madrasa Registration Bill have surfaced, citing existing legislation that already governs the registration of madrasas.
In his objections, the President referred to the Pakistan Madrasa Education Board Ordinance 2001 and the Islamabad Capital Territory Trust Act 2020, arguing that new legislation is unnecessary in their presence.
He further highlighted that the Societies Registration Act of 1860 is already in effect within Islamabad’s jurisdiction. The President criticized the bill for not including provisions explicitly limiting its application to Islamabad and warned that registering madrasas as societies could allow their use for purposes beyond education.
The President pointed out contradictions in the definition of madrasas across various sections of the proposed bill. He noted that including madrasas under the scope of the 1860 Act creates inconsistencies with its preamble, which does not mention educational institutions.
Additionally, the President raised concerns that registering madrasas under the proposed law could fuel sectarianism, potentially leading to law and order issues if multiple madrasas operate under a single society. He cautioned that such overlaps of interests could attract international criticism, including from global bodies like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), potentially impacting Pakistan’s ratings and global standing.
The objections have been shared with JUI leadership by the Speaker of the National Assembly, who also met with Senator Kamran Murtaza to discuss the matter in detail.
