Madrassa reforms: Govt enlists religious scholars’ support

Crackdown will be launched against seminaries linked with militancy

ISLAMABAD:

The government has enlisted the support of religious scholars for a comprehensive madrassa reforms plan which envisages registration of all seminaries and a crackdown against those having direct or indirect links with the ongoing militancy.

According to a joint declaration issued on Saturday following a meeting between Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and representatives of the Ittehad Tanzeemul Madaris Pakistan (ITMP) – an apex body of religious seminaries of all five schools of thought – it was agreed that separate committees will be formed for registration of seminaries and for introducing reforms in their curricula.

A curricula reforms committee, having representations of the religious affairs ministry, Madaris and provincial governments, will propose changes in the curricula to counter extremism while a Madaris registration committee will prepare a registration form to get credentials of unregistered religious schools.



The two sides also agreed to establish a coordination mechanism between Madaris and the government to ensure joint efforts against terrorism. According to new arrangements, Madaris will receive foreign financial aid only through the government – a move which will ensure proper audit of their funds.

Services of Ulema will also be enlisted to defeat terrorists on the intellectual front. It was also agreed that Ulema will convey this national consensus against terrorism in their Friday sermons and educate their followers, says the declaration.

Earlier, Ulema from all schools of thought issued a decree against suicide bombings and termed war against the state of Pakistan ‘unIslamic’. The meeting unanimously condemned the Peshawar school massacre and pledged that terrorism in all its manifestations will be eradicated through national unity. The declaration also condemned French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo for publishing blasphemous cartoons.



Later, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar told journalists that “the Madaris administration assured that they are with the armed forces, the government and the country in the ongoing war against terrorism and militancy.”  In the first phase, he said, the government would ensure registration of Madaris and meetings would also be held with administration of those seminaries which are not under the ITMP.

“It has also been agreed upon that no madrassa will be targeted without evidence,” the minister said, adding that through fresh legislation this law would also be extended to the tribal regions where currently no legal mechanism was available regarding registration of religious seminaries.

He cautioned that this was a long and tricky war which would be fought in the streets of Pakistan. He also urged religious institutions to help the government identify potential terrorists.

At a separate press conference, ITMP member Maulana Hanif Jalandhri said it was also demanded during the meeting that discriminatory actions and police raids against Madaris should be stopped. “Madaris will play a front role in this war, as religious seminaries are also victims of terrorism,” he said.

Kerry’s recent visit to Pakistan

Referring to US Secretary of State John Kerry’s recent visit to Pakistan, Nisar said all issues were put on the table regarding counter-terrorism efforts in the country.

“Though we were behind closed doors, we spoke for Pakistan and gave a clear stance on each issue. We told Secretary Kerry that we are busy on our northern border while India is creating hurdles through LoC violations which show India’s strange approach,” he said.

The minister said the Pakistani leadership conveyed its concerns over India’s suspicious designs against Pakistan in the wake of the recent US tilt towards New Delhi. “We told Kerry that we are investigating the 2008 Mumbai attack but India has done nothing to probe into the 2007 Samjhauta Express bombing,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2015.