ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman for discussions on the Madrasah Registration Bill today (Friday).
According to reports, PM Shehbaz reached out to Maulana Rehman to discuss matters related to seminaries in detail. Rehman is expected to present the perspective of the Ittehad-e-Tanzeemat-Madaris, a representative body for seminaries, during the talks.
If the prime minister proposes new measures, Rehman will consult the Ittehad-e-Tanzeemat-Madaris for their input. Prior to the meeting, Rehman reportedly sought guidance from renowned Islamic scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani on the matter.
Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and Senator Kamran Murtaza will accompany Rehman during his meeting with the premier.
Earlier, the Ittehad Tanzimat Madaris Deenia (ITMD), a federation of major madrassa oversight bodies, has called on the government to urgently issue a gazette notification for the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act, 2024. The ITMD made this demand during a press conference held after its supreme council meeting on Monday.
Addressing the media, ITMD leaders emphasized that the bill had been sent to the President’s House following its final approval. They stated that any objections raised by the presidency had become invalid once the constitutionally designated time for raising objections had expired.
The madrassa bill, however, has stirred controversy, particularly after President Asif Ali Zardari expressed concerns about its potential implications.
The president suggested that the bill, once enacted, might lead to the registration of madrassas under the Societies Act, potentially triggering sanctions from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), and other international entities.
Passed by both houses of parliament, the bill has become a contentious issue between the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) and the government. Its enactment was a key component of the agreement between the government and the JUI-F in exchange for supporting the 26th Amendment.
Following parliamentary approval, the bill now requires the president’s assent to become law. However, President Zardari initially returned the bill earlier this month, citing legal objections.
Under the Constitution, a bill rejected by the president must be presented in a joint session of parliament. In line with this requirement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has advised the president to convene a joint session on December 17, according to parliamentary sources.
Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, speaking at a packed press conference, provided a detailed timeline of the bill’s journey. He noted that the bill was forwarded to the President’s House immediately after parliamentary approval.
