Madrassa Registration Bill
The prolonged dispute over the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill 2024 appears to have reached a resolution, with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Senator Kamran Murtaza confirming that differences between the government and his party have been resolved.
The senator announced on Wednesday that the madrassa registration bill is expected to be notified within the next two days.
“The gazette notification of the madrassa registration act, passed in light of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, is likely to be issued soon,” Senator Murtaza shared during an interview.
The breakthrough follows a high-level meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, during which the government reportedly agreed to all the demands of the Ittehad Tanzeemat-e-Madaris Deenia (ITMD).
This resolution marks the end of a contentious standoff over the madrassa bill, which had already been approved by both houses of parliament.
The bill, a critical component of the agreement between the JUI-F and the government to support the 26th Amendment, now awaits presidential assent to become law.
However, President Asif Ali Zardari initially returned the bill, raising eight legal objections, including concerns over its impact on Pakistan’s international standing.
President Zardari warned that the registration of madrassas under the Societies Act might attract sanctions from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and affect the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) trade privileges.
He also expressed concerns over potential sectarian conflicts and the risk of madrassas being used for non-educational purposes.
Despite these objections, the bill has been finalized and, if passed in a joint parliamentary session, will be deemed enacted under Article 75(2) of the Constitution. It shifts madrassa registration from the education ministry to the industries ministry.
Senator Murtaza noted that a future amendment would allow madrassas the discretion to register with the education ministry or under the Societies Act, addressing concerns raised by factions like the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC).
As Pakistan navigates this complex legislation, the government emphasizes the need to balance international obligations with domestic stability, aiming for a sustainable resolution to the challenges surrounding madrassa regulation.
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