Daily Times

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman is in rage after President Asif Ali Zardari returned the Madaris (religious seminaries) Registration Bill with a set of objections. If the Maulana is not pacified in a couple of days, he may march on the capital. The issue brewing tensions is that the government plans to regulate and mainstream religious seminaries. Seminaries fear they may lose autonomy.

A segment of society believes that there should be accountability and transparency in the operation of religious seminaries. These schools provide education to thousands of students. The plan goes nowhere when seminaries see the whole process as a bid to undermine their independence or cast undue suspicion on these institutions. The government’s initiative to register seminaries and open bank accounts for them is a step towards formalisation, which could benefit both seminaries and the state. However, the lack of consensus on the bill stems from mistrust among stakeholders.

The matter is sensitive. On the other hand, the objections raised by the president, citing the 18th Amendment that places education as a provincial subject, shows the legal and procedural hurdles that complicate the implementation of such policies. The legal hurdles are not misplaced, but beyond the registration of religious education, what should be discussed is the challenge of combating extremism and ensuring that seminaries do not become breeding grounds for radical ideologies. Maulana Fazlur Rehman says that seminaries are being pushed towards extremism by the government’s actions. Come on. This is a serious charge that warrants careful consideration.

The government, which has handled the PTI with its guns cannot afford to provoke the religious students. It is advised that the government with opposition leaders and religious groups must work towards a more inclusive and transparent process to address concerns. Meanwhile, religious leaders must also acknowledge the need for transparency and modernisation to enhance the credibility and effectiveness of their institutions.

It is hoped that the registration bill will not become a flashpoint for division. *