Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), has stated that religious seminaries are not willing to operate under the Ministry of Education. In a media interaction on Monday, he emphasized that religious schools, or madrasas, exist worldwide, and while they seek cooperation with the state, they are being pressured towards registration.
Rehman recalled that a similar legal framework was introduced in 2004, and in 2019, an agreement was made regarding madrasa registration under the government. He further mentioned that during the tenure of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government, consultations were held to frame relevant legislation.
Addressing the issue of the 26th Amendment, Rehman claimed that JUI-F succeeded in reducing certain provisions related to madrasas. He questioned why the President of Pakistan could sign a law but was hesitant on the madrasa bill, which had the consensus of all stakeholders.
He reiterated that religious seminaries should have the freedom to affiliate with any department they choose. Rehman expressed concerns that religious scholars were being sidelined and seminaries brought under undue scrutiny. He also referenced an upcoming meeting scheduled by renowned scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani on December 17 to discuss matters related to madrasas.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman reaffirmed that JUI-F seeks to regularize madrasas under the law while ensuring their autonomy. He rejected the imposition of executive orders or directives that could undermine their independence. Rehman clarified that under the Societies Act, the Ministry of Industry did not direct religious schools to follow a specific framework, and if registration was accepted, it would lead to the imposition of directorial control.
