President Zardari returns Madrasah Registration Bill over legal objections

Bill was pushed through by govt, following assurances made to JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman

President Asif Ali Zardari has returned the Madrasah Registration Bill to the Prime Minister's Office, citing legal objections. According to Express News, the bill, which aimed to regulate and register religious schools (madrasahs), has faced significant hurdles in the legal review process.

Sources reveal that the president raised concerns over the bill’s legal validity, particularly its lack of clarity regarding the jurisdiction of madrasah registration. The bill had been pushed through by the government, following assurances made to Maulana Fazlur Rehman, a key ally.

The registration of madrasahs falls under the provincial education ministries, and there are already two existing laws governing madrasah registration in Islamabad. The new bill does not specify that it would supersede these existing regulations.

As a result, President Zardari has sent the bill back without signing it, and despite the wishes of Bilawal Bhutto, it remains unsigned. The bill, which focuses on regulating madrasah accounts and registration, is viewed as a provincial issue. 

According to sources, all provinces must pass the bill in their respective assemblies for it to have any practical effect. As a result, even if President Zardari had signed the bill, its provincial nature would have rendered it largely ineffective without provincial approval.

The bill’s approval was seen as a political compromise to satisfy the demands of religious factions. However, the president’s legal objections indicate that further parliamentary procedures are necessary before the bill can become law.

Earlier on Wednesday, Bilawal met with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief in Islamabad. Accompanied by a PPP delegation, he arrived at Rehman’s residence for a detailed discussion.

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 had 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.