Red lines: No compromise on seminaries, says JUI-F

Fazl says no curbs on religious activities would be tolerated

MULTAN: No one will be allowed to compromise the sanctity of religious seminaries, Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman said on Friday.

The JUI-F supremo made the remarks while meeting Maulana Haneef Jalandhari at Multan’s Jamia Khairul Madaris. Both pledged to protect the sanctity of religious seminaries at all costs. Rahman said efforts to curb freedom of religious seminaries would not be tolerated. He said all religious parties would work in tandem to protect religious seminaries’ ideals and objectives.

The JUI-F supremo said the party would work to unite the nation. He said the overriding notion behind the Pakistan Movement was to create a state where Muslims would be able to lead their lives in accordance with the Sharia. Rahman said curbs on religion and religious scholars would not be tolerated. He said religious teachers enlightened the young with divine knowledge. Rahman said this made it imperative for them to command respect.

Rahman and Jalandhari said the acceptance of foreign dictation with regard to operations of religious seminaries in the form of so-called reforms would not be allowed to be introduced. They said they would also strive to revamp religious seminaries curriculum in accordance with the idea of Pakistan and the Constitution.

A number of teachers from the religious seminary were also present at the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th,  2016.