President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed concern over potential international repercussions if the madressah registration bill, passed by parliament, is not approved. Religious political parties have criticized the government for allegedly delaying the process.
The controversy revolves around the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act, 2024, which outlines regulations for religious seminaries. President Zardari has yet to give his assent to the bill, leading to objections from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), who accuse the ruling coalition of stalling.
The bill, which proposes registering seminaries through the relevant deputy commissioner’s office as done before 2019, was returned to the National Assembly by President Zardari on October 29 with specific objections.
International Implications
In a document addressed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif dated November 13, President Zardari warned of potential criticism and sanctions from international bodies such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP-Plus) if the registration process for madressahs is altered. He argued that the inclusion of madressah education under the Societies Act conflicts with its existing preamble and could contravene Article 227 of the Constitution, which mandates laws conform to Islamic injunctions.
The president also expressed concerns about the risk of sectarianism, suggesting that allowing madressahs to register under societies could lead to divisions and monopolies within the system.
Legislative Background
The Societies Registration (Amendment) Act, 2024, extends the original Societies Registration Act of 1860. It includes provisions requiring seminaries to register, submit annual activity reports, and have their accounts audited. The bill also bans the teaching or dissemination of materials promoting sectarianism or militancy.
The legislation was part of an agreement between the government and JUI-F to support the 26th Amendment. Both the Senate and National Assembly passed the bill in October 2024, but President Zardari raised objections, citing procedural flaws and returned it to parliament.
History of Seminary Regulation
In 2019, the PTI-led government transferred seminary registration from the Interior Ministry to the education departments, recognizing madressahs as educational institutions. This move, initially welcomed, was later opposed by JUI-F-aligned seminaries due to political differences and their resistance to integrating conventional education.
Previously, seminaries were overseen by five boards representing different Islamic sects. Following the 2014 Army Public School attack, these boards agreed to bring madressahs under the Federal Education Department. Since 2019, ten new boards have been established, challenging the monopoly of the traditional boards.
Current Political Context
The government’s recent attempt to reassign seminary regulation to deputy commissioners via the Societies Act has faced resistance. President Zardari’s objections and the subsequent delay have led to threats of protests from JUI-F. However, opposition parties, including PTI, have declined to support such agitation, citing the national consensus achieved in 2019.
The debate over the bill reflects broader tensions between political factions and highlights the complexities of balancing domestic and international expectations in regulating religious institutions.
