JUI-F losing patience over madrassa bill

Fazl tells Shehbaz his party will protect seminaries Will present its stance to nation on Sunday JUI-F to march

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE/PESHAWAR:

The alleged refusal of President Asif Ali Zardari to sign a bill related to registration of seminaries has created another political crisis with the JUI-F threatening to march on Islamabad "to protect the freedom of madaris".

On Wednesday, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met Fazl in Islamabad after the JUI-F issued a stern warning over delays in the enactment of the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act, 2024 by the president, who is also the PPP's co-chairman.

After the meeting, Bilawal did not address the media. However, some senior JUI-F members claimed that the PPP chairman assured them President Zardari would sign the bill soon.

However, the JUI-F now seems to be running out of patience as Maulana Fazulr Rehman on Friday told Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in categorical terms that his party would not compromise on the freedom of seminaries.

According to JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri, Fazl held a telephonic conversation with Shehbaz during which he expressed his reservations over the delay in the enactment of the bill, already passed by parliament.

He said PM Shehbaz assured Fazl that his concerns would be addressed. Ghauri said Fazl asked the PM not to make a piece of consensus legislation controversial.

"We stand firm on our stance and will not allow any compromise on the independence and freedom of madrassas," Fazl told Shehbaz, according to the spokesperson.

Later, talking to the media in Peshawar, Fazl said the federal government is neither legal nor constitutional but a regime imposed on people through rigged elections.

He said his party has a serious intent to protest in Islamabad if the bill is not approved. "We plan to present a detailed stance to the nation during a public gathering in Peshawar on Sunday [tomorrow]," he added.

The Maulana confirmed that his party was still holding negotiations with the government on the bills but clarified that it will not back down from its position.

He said while the government has initiated contact for dialogue, the JUI-F is simultaneously engaging with Wifaq-ul-Madaris and allied seminaries organizations.

He said discussions regarding the religious seminaries bill had previously taken place in detail with PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari before the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment. He said consultations were also held with the PTI at the time.

Fazl said if the government backtracked on its commitments, it would lead to increasing political mistrust in the country.

"We want to create an atmosphere of trust. It is the government's responsibility to improve the situation, but it seems to be pushing people toward extremism and protest," he said.

He said a consensus had been reached on the proposed legislation about religious seminaries even before the formation of the PDM government in April 2022 but the process was stalled due to "unnecessary interference by certain elements".

The Maulana questioned the sudden objections raised on the bill today, saying, "The same parties that drafted the bill are now objecting to it. Despite this, we are ready for dialogue to resolve matters."

Regarding general elections, Maulana labeled them as "fraudulent" and reiterated his stance that the federal government is illegitimate. "We will take our decisions with full strength. If any change comes, we will not be part of it," he said.

On the other hand, JUI-F central secretary-general Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said if the bill is not approved by December 8, they will march toward Islamabad.

"The government must approve the religious seminaries bill at all costs. We are religious people and do not wish to march toward Islamabad, nor can the country afford such a situation," he said.

Haideri said the stalling of the bill after its passage through the National Assembly and Senate only reflected bad intentions. "This is not just the bill of JUI-F or Wifaq-ul-Madaris but it represents all seminaries' organizations," he added.

WITH INPUT FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT IN PESHAWAR