DI KHAN: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that his party has no qualms with religious figures (ulema) over the “Madrasa Registration Bill” but it was the President’s House and president who created confusion unnecessarily by raising objection to a bill already approved by the parliament.
Talking to the media in Dera Ismail Khan, Maulana Fazl said that the registration of madrasas is being debated in politics today. He said that the draft of bill was finalised during the previous government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif followed by its unanimous approval by both houses of the parliament.
He asked why the bill was not signed by the president after the approval of the 26th Constitutional Amendment despite the fact the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz took part in finalising the draft of the bill.
“What was the need for President Asif Ali Zardari to ask to alter the draft bill further. Were all state institutions not involved in finalising the draft at all stages?” he asked.
Maulana Fazl said that why the people were now blaming them. Those who called the ulema (to discuss the nitty-gritty details of the draft bill) were solely responsible for the delay in its approval.
Addressing the religious figures, he said that “we have no disagreement with any seminary, or organisation of seminaries or religious scholars, our complaint is only against the President’s House and the president who dragged the matter gratuitously.
He said that “we should not be blamed for this deadlock and only the President’s House and the president, who raised objection to the bill approved twice, are responsible for this.”
He said that “we had demanded the approval of the draft bill that was brought prior to the general election.”
Earlier, speaking in Peshawar during an anti-Israel conference, Maulana Fazl accused the president of acting in bad faith by withholding his signature, despite extensive deliberations, including a five-hour discussion with Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
“The Madrassa Registration Bill represents a consensus across the political spectrum, and its delay raises serious concerns,” Maulana Fazl had said.
The JUI-F chief had said that a strategy regarding a protest would be finalised during an upcoming meeting of madrassa representatives.
“If necessary, we will march on Islamabad. Threats will not deter us; we do not fear intimidation,” he warned, stressing that interference in religious seminaries would not be tolerated.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had reached out to Maulana Fazlur Rehman assuring him to address his party’s concerns regarding the madrasa bill.