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The coalition government and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) continue discussing the contentious madrassa registration bill.
As per media sources, after continuous consultation over the madrassa registration bill between the coalition government and the JUI-F, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (PM) asked to President Asif Ali Zardari to hold a joint session of parliament to discuss the contentious madrassa registration bill. on December 17
Reportedly, PM advised President Asif Ali Zardari to hold a joint session to discuss eight bills including the contentious madrassa registration bill.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman-led party proposed a new bill after President Zardari had “raised eight objections” over the previous Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill 2024.
The contentious madrassa bill already has been passed by both houses of parliament under the condition of JUI-F supports to the 26th Amendment.
The bill now requires the president’s assent to become law but President Asif Ali Zardari had raised eight objections over the bill and returned the bill earlier this month. According to the Constitution, if the president refuses to sign the bill then it must be tabled before a joint sitting.
JUI-F leader Hafiz Hamdullah gave strong reaction over objections and claimed that the government’s “prime objective is handing over seminaries to FATF [Financial Action Task Force] at the behest of the global anti-money laundering watchdog”.
“It has also proved that this is not the parliament of Pakistan but FATF’s,” He went on to say that the country’s “parliament is not independent to legislate [laws]”, JUI-F leader further said.
Today, Sindh Federal Education Minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui speaking to the media in Karachi said that 10 out of 15 seminaries’ boards had raised objections to the bill which led the federal government to review it. He further said that the government was working to give a legal shape to the combative Societies Act.
It is worth mentioning here that today, President Asif Ali Zardari addressed the press conference in Karachi. While speaking to the media, the president has also expressed fear that if the madrassa bill turns into a law, then it may lead to the imposition of FATF, Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), and other sanctions on the country. He further claimed that the registration of religious seminaries under the law would lead to the spread of sectarianism and may disturb the law-and-order situation.
