Clerics stand united: Wafaq takes dim view of security policy

Says it will resist attempts to interfere affairs of seminaries.

PESHAWAR:

A key federation of the country’s religious schools on Monday declared its opposition to the National Security Policy over fears that the government would meddle in the affairs of madrassas and change their curricula for the worst.

“We will not tolerate any interference in the curricula of seminaries. We believe in full autonomy and are free in devising our own curricula,” Maulana Anwarul Haq, the central vice president of Wafaqul Madaris Al Arabia Pakistan, told reporters at the press club.

Haq pointed out that the syllabus of Wafaqul Madaris was formulated by its curriculum committee according to the requirements of present circumstances and this committee was the only authority responsible for its supervision. “As such, we do not need any consultation with the government and will never succumb to any pressure,” he said.

Speaking about the audit of seminaries under the new policy, he said the government had previously carried out such an exercise and this was hardly a new practice.

“All seminaries go through the audit process every year and their licences are renewed after the audit,” he added.

Haq alleged that conspiracies were being hatched against the integrity of seminaries and that all clerics were united against such attempts.

“We will hold rallies throughout the country and will take a unanimous stance against the National Security Policy,” said Maulana Husain Ahmad, the provincial administrator of the Wafaq.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2014.