Fazl meets Bilawal, raises concern over delay in signing madrasah bill into law

PPP chairman assures JUI-F chief he would raise the matter with the government

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad on Wednesday.

Bilawal, accompanied by a PPP delegation, arrived at Rehman’s residence for a detailed discussion on the current political situation in Pakistan, reported Express News.

The meeting primarily focused on the status of the Madrasah Registration Bill, which has yet to receive approval from the president, despite being passed by both houses of parliament.

JUI-F chief expressed his concerns about the delay, asking, "Why has the president not signed the Madrasah Registration Bill despite its approval in both houses?"

In response, Bilawal assured the JUI-F leader that he would raise the matter with the government and ensure the issue is addressed. "I will talk to the government about why the bill has not been signed," Bilawal said.

JUI-F leader Hafiz Hamdullah also commented on the delay, pointing out that the Madrasah Registration Bill is part of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, yet it is being held up in the president's office.

"We demand an explanation. Why is the President not signing the bill?" he asked, highlighting the political divide on the matter.

He added that the PPP and Bilawal had supported the bill when it was passed in both parliamentary houses, questioning what now stood in the way of its approval. "What is the obstacle now, and who is behind it?" Hamdullah said. "Is the Presidency above Parliament that it is blocking this bill?" he questioned.

He urged Bilawal to take up the matter with his father, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, to ensure Parliament’s supremacy is maintained. "If Bilawal takes action, it will be a matter of upholding the supremacy of Parliament. Otherwise, Rehman will be justified in taking a tougher stance," he added.

Hamdullah also warned that the PPP's options to address the issue were limited to dialogue or more forceful measures, adding, "If dialogue doesn't work, Bilawal has only two options."

Rehman had stated a day earlier that if the president does not sign the Madrasah Registration Bill by December 7, he will announce a protest movement on December 8 in Peshawar.