The federal government has proposed the introduction of a presidential order to regulate the registration of madrasas across the country.
Sources confirm that the order will be issued by the president based on consensus after consultation with key stakeholders.
According to insiders, the idea for the ordinance emerged during a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari and Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and other stakeholders have expressed their support for the ordinance regarding the registration of madrasas.
The aim of the proposed decree is to provide legal protection to madrassas under the amendment to the Act on the Registration of the General Directorate of Religious Education and Societies. This framework is expected to strengthen the regulation of madrasas and ensure their compliance with national educational standards.
Government sources stressed that the regulation is designed to promote consensus among all parties. They also confirmed that individuals or organizations opposed to the initiative are free to seek redress through appropriate forums.
Last week, the Supreme Council of Ittehad-e-Tanazeem Madaris Diniya met in Islamabad to discuss critical issues related to the madrasa registration legislation and its implications for seminaries in Pakistan. The council, comprising eminent religious scholars and leaders, unanimously passed a resolution demanding the immediate issuance of a notification to amend the Companies Registration Act.
In a joint press conference after the meeting, Mufti Muneebur Rehman, Mufti Taqi Usmani and Maulana Fazlur Rehman stressed the importance of resolving the matter in a constitutional and peaceful manner.
Mufti Muneeb emphasized that the amendment was approved by Parliament on October 21 and sent to the Bureau for final approval. Although the error in the bill was initially pointed out by the President on 28 October and later corrected by the Speaker of the National Assembly, the President raised no objections during the ten-day review period, making the bill law.
He insisted that the president had highlighted new errors after the review period had passed, adding that the bill had now become law.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman clarified that their demand for gazette notification was based on legal and constitutional grounds and emphasized that aggravating the situation would not benefit anyone. “We are determined to resolve this issue peacefully through dialogue in a legal and constitutional manner,” he added.
The meeting also addressed wider concerns, including the Madras Act and its impact on religious seminaries. On behalf of the council, Maulana Aslam Ghauri mentioned that the next steps would be decided based on the government’s response to their demands.
