Shut down: 25% of Hyderabad division madrassas sealed

They had failed to complete their registration as required under the NAP

HYDERABAD: Around 25 per cent of the 643 madrassas in the districts of Hyderabad division, with an estimated 50,000 students, have been closed for failing to fulfil the registration requirement being enforced under the National Action Plan (NAP).

A review meeting of the SSPs at the DIG office on Friday was informed that 161 madrassas, including 55 in Dadu, 33 in Hyderabad, 20 in Matiari, 16 in Jamshoro, 14 in Badin and 12 in Sajawal, have been sealed. There are 482 madrassas currently operating, including 130 in Hyderabad, 71 in Badin, 70 in Jamshoro, 66 in Dadu, 33 in Thatta, 32 in Tando Allahyar, 28 in Matiari, 27 in Tando Muhammad Khan and 25 in Sajawal.

A madrassa is to be sealed if it is operating on the basis of a mosque registration, if there is a difference between the authorised name and the one being used, if it is functioning in one district but registered in another, if its registration is forged or if multiple madrassas are operating on a single registration.

The Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat has 42 mosques and 10 madrassas in six districts within the Hyderabad division. Two of their madrassas have been sealed by the police in Jamshoro and Dadu districts. Hyderabad DIG Dr Sanaullah Abbasi directed the SSPs to ensure that all the madrassas submitted their audit reports and the sources of their funding.

Up to 123 cases for the violation of the loudspeaker act and 13 against hate speech and material have been registered. Furthermore, 129 cases have been lodged with the arrests of 270 Afghan citizens living illegally in Pakistan.