Seminary Bill
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has agreed to all demands put forth by the Ittehad Tanzeemat Madaaris Deenia (ITMD) concerning the Seminary Registration Bill, solidifying an agreement on Saturday.
Reports indicate that the government has assured ITMD that seminaries will be registered under the Societies Act, which addresses a key concern raised by the organization.
Moreover, it has been confirmed that no joint session of Parliament will be convened to discuss this matter further. A notification is expected to be issued soon to formalize the agreement, aligning with the amendments proposed under the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
This development follows a series of discussions led by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who previously met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to address concerns related to the Seminary Registration Bill.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman led a delegation that included Molana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri and Senator Kamran Murtaza to press the matter.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the importance of resolving the issue promptly. He directed the Ministry of Law to act in accordance with the constitution and relevant legal frameworks to address the reservations of religious organizations.
Prominent leaders from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), including Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Ayaz Sadiq, Ishaq Dar, and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, were also present.
Information Minister Atta Tarar, Adviser Rana Sanaullah, and Attorney General Mansoor Usman participated in the discussions as well.
Reports suggest that PM Shehbaz had contacted Maulana Fazlur Rehman directly to discuss the Seminary Registration Bill. Following their conversation, the JUI-F chief engaged in a detailed dialogue with Wafaqul Madaris officials before presenting the matter to the prime minister.
The bill, initially passed by Parliament as the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was sent to President Asif Ali Zardari for approval. However, the president returned it to the National Assembly, citing several concerns.
One of his primary objections was the contradictory definitions of seminaries within the bill’s clauses. He also noted that the Madrassa Education Board Ordinance, 2001, already governs seminaries, making new legislation redundant.
The federal government’s recent assurances reflect its commitment to addressing the concerns of religious parties and avoiding potential conflicts arising from the proposed bill.
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