Religious seminaries will not be closed: Wafaqul-Madaris

As the government takes measures to mitigate the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the General Secretary of Wafaqul-Madaris Al-Arabia Muhammad Hanif Jalandhari on Tuesday said religious seminaries would not be closed as the largest federation of seminaries in the country was not consulted on the issue. 

A day before, the government ordered the closure of all educational institutions across the country from November 26 till January 10 next year and directed for holding online classes until December 24 to reduce the chances of students being infected during the second wave of the coronavirus, which global as well as local experts fear, worsens during the winter season.

While visiting a local seminary - Jamia Zubairia- Jalandhari also condemned an attack on a seminary in Peshawar earlier in October. At least nine people were killed and over 125 injured after an explosive device in a bag detonated inside a madrassa in Peshawar's Dir Colony in October.

The decision by the federal government to close all educational institutions from November 26 to December 24.was also opposed by Sindh. 

The government has expressed hope that educational institutions will be able to reopen on January 11, 2021. However, another meeting will be held prior to the reopening date to take a final decision on the matter.