Unregistered seminaries a ‘sensitive’ issue

ISLAMABAD: There are about 400 madrassas operating in Islamabad, according to clerics of various religious seminaries including Tanzeem-ul-Madaras, Wafaq-ul-Madaras and Jamiat-e-Islami. However, official documents obtained from the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) revealed that only 123 seminaries are registered with the authorities.

Showing concern over the matter, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad (East) Malik Afsar Khan said, “We are unable to understand why these owners do not register their institutions despite all our repeated directions to do so.” Some of the madrassas without proper documentation are being run by prominent political figures, he added.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has also been unable to crackdown on these unregistered madrassas. Director Enforcement CDA Captain (Retd) Faiz Muhammad said the matter was sensitive, which was why CDA was hesitant to take stern action keeping in mind the Red Mosque fiasco in 2007.

Some of these madrassas also encroach upon public land. Faiz Muhammad said, “Some clerics have built their homes on the same land allotted for a seminary, or build portions that they rent out, which is illegal.”

A CDA report obtained last month showed that Masjid Ameer Hamza on Murree Road, Jamia Ashrafia and Masjid Suffah in Sector I-8, Masjid Syedna Abubakr Siddique, Masjid Umar in I-9 Markaz, Masjid Syedana Fatima, Imambagarh of Syeda Sakeena in I-8/2 and Masjid Moatamar Islami in F-6, have illegally built extra rooms adjacent to the land allocated for the madrasas.

CDA Chairman, Imtiaz Inayat Elahi said, “This matter has been brought to my notice, but because of the sensitivity of this subject, any action against these institutions could lead to confrontations between religious leaders and the government.”

Meanwhile, madrassas owners do not hold the view that their actions are illegal, “We are serving Islam, this may be illegal for CDA but this is all being done for God and for poor students who cannot afford education otherwise,” Muhammad Asif Qadri, Mohtamim of Madrais Anwar-ul-Quran said.

The registered madrassas in the capital provide both religious and conventional education to more than 42,000 students.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2010.