Reforms: Jalandhri blasts govt ‘for singling out’ madrassas

Asks as to how many seminary students were involved in militant attack

ISLAMABAD: A meeting for ‘mainstreaming of madrassas’ turned out to be a tough huddle for government when representatives of madrassas took on prime minister for his recent speech and ‘singling out’ them for reforms.

The meeting, attended by ministers and clerics from different schools of thought, was held on Tuesday at Ministry of Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony.

Earlier, State Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Mohammad Blighur Rehman said after the Peshawar attack the government has expedited the process of reform in madrassas curriculum and infrastructure.

Wifaqul Madaris al Arabi General Secretary Qari Hanif Jalandhri lambasted government for holding the meeting with title of ‘mainstreaming of madrassas’ and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s speech about madrassa reforms and regulations.

“Why after the Peshawar attack a finger is being raised at us for being breeding ground of militancy and terrorism in the country,” he said, adding that people related to madrassas are citizens of this country and love the country as much as any other countrymen.

Jalandhri asked the officials as to how many seminary students were involved in attack on Kamra Air Base, GHQ and other such incidents.

He said the government should come up with clear evidence and names of madrassa people involved in terror activities.

“However, the government has nothing to say. Instead of [targeting us] it should appreciate us that we are feeding, educating and raising over three million students across the country,” he said.

Later, Ittehad Tanzeemat-e-Madaris General Secretary Mufti Muneebur Rehman also condemned government’s attitude and said if government wanted to seriously address the issues of madaris then they should seriously consult them.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2014.