Fazl warns 'people in agencies' not to send threats
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has strongly criticized the government and the establishment, saying, "Do not send us a threat; this does not scare us."
During a speech delivered on Sunday, Maulana did not mince his words, saying: "People in uniform, people in agencies, don't send threats; we are not afraid of threats. If you are going to do bad things, then we will be worse than you," warned Fazl.
Maulana Fazl also threatened to start a long march towards Islamabad if his party's demands on the Madaris registration bill weren't met.
Last week, President Asif Ali Zardari refused to sign the bill and returned it, raising some objections, including the fact that education is a provincial subject.
Addressing the participants, Fazl questioned: "Is not signing the bill malice and fraud? Are you ready or not If we decide to march on Islamabad?"
JUI-F Chief is against religious seminaries falling under the education ministry; Fazl added: "Attempts were made to keep Madaris under the Ministry of Education by forming a directorate."
"So-called reforms were being imposed on madrassa in the name of bringing the seminaries into the mainstream. You declared war on us; we did not," remarked Fazl.
Earlier on December 6, the JUI-F had given the coalition government the deadline of December 8 for the passage of the bill.
On the other hand, Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain said yesterday that registration of seminaries was a long-standing requirement.
"It will take some time to give the Madrasa Registration Bill a legal shape," the minister said.
Accepting the Maulana's demand, the government approved the bill from both houses of parliament, he said. "Madrasa are also educational institutions that only fall under the education ministry."
The minister said: "18,000 Madrassas were registered with the Directorate General of Religious Education."
Meanwhile, Allama Tahir Ashrafi, the head of the Pakistan Ulema Council, publicly opposed Maulana Fazlur Rehman's position on the registration and regulation of madrasahs in Pakistan.
In his recent statement, Ashrafi emphasized that madrasahs are educational institutions and should, therefore, be registered under the Ministry of Education rather than the Ministry of Industries, as suggested by Rehman.
Ashrafi recalled the consensus reached in 2019 on the registration process of madrasahs following multiple discussions and consultations. Key figures, including former Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood, played a central role in ensuring that the registration framework was carefully deliberated and finalized.
The agreement designated the Ministry of Education as the sole authority responsible for collecting data on religious schools.
Reportedly, Maulana Fazl was assured by the coalition government regarding the Madaris registration bill for his cooperation in passing the 26th constitutional amendment.
"Madrasas will be registered but not subordinated. Agreements made in 2010 are being violated, but we will ensure our rights are protected," stated Fazl.