Cabinet approves amendments to madrassa bill after JUI-F settlement

A statement from the PM's Office confirmed that the cabinet endorsed changes to the Societies Registration Act 1860

The federal cabinet on Friday approved amendments to the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill 2024, which focuses on the registration process for madrassas in Pakistan.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the cabinet had endorsed changes to the Societies Registration Act 1860, based on recommendations from the law ministry.

This approval follows a resolution of all disputes between the government and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) over the controversial legislation.

The amendments are expected to facilitate a streamlined process for registering religious seminaries (madrassas) across the country, addressing long-standing concerns raised by religious parties, particularly JUI-F.

The breakthrough came two days after JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza announced that all differences regarding the madrassa registration bill had been resolved. He further confirmed that a gazette notification for the bill would likely be issued within the next two days, finalizing the legal framework.

Murtaza, alongside Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, stated that the draft legislation had been finalised and would soon be put into effect, marking the conclusion of discussions.

The resolution of the issue followed a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, during which the government reportedly agreed to meet all demands set by the  Ittehad-e-Tanzeemat-e-Madaris, an umbrella organisation representing madrassas.

The approval of the amendments signals a key step in the government's efforts to regulate madrassas, while also attempting to address the concerns of religious parties regarding oversight and autonomy of religious institutions.