FAZAL SHER

ISLAMABAD: Following a controversial statement issued by Information Minister Pervez Rasheed against religious seminaries, five religious boards boycotted negotiations with the government on registration and regulation of seminaries, one of the major components of the National Action Plan (NAP) to counter terrorism in the country.

An official privy to developments told Business Recorder that the representatives of five religious boards maintain that Pervez Rasheed’s statement in which he termed all religious seminaries “the universities of ignorance” is a charge sheet against all ulema therefore they boycotted the scheduled meeting with the government - a meeting called to finalize the registration form and affidavit for registration of seminaries.

“Ulema will not hold discussions with the government on the proposed registration form until the government clears its position regarding the statement of Information Minister,” he said.

In a meeting with special assistant to Prime Minister Khawaja Zaheer, the Uelma stated that the Information Minister had termed all Ulema illiterate “and negotiations with the illiterate do not make any sense”.

He said the meeting was attended by the representatives of five boards including Maulana Hafeez Jullandhuri of Wafaqul Madri Deobandi, Maulana Qazi Niaz Hussain Naqvi of Wafaqul Madaris Shia Pakistan, Maulana Abdul Malik of Rabta Al Madaris Islamia Pakistan, Maulana Yaseen Zafer of Wafaqul Madri Salfia and he (Mufti Muneeb ur Rehman) will represent Tanzeemul Madaris Ahl-e-Sunnat Pakistan, and senior officials of Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Religious Affairs.

The official said the Ministry of Religious Affairs prepared the form and affidavit in consultation with Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Ministry of Interior, police, four provinces, GB and AJK.

He said that following the approval of all provinces, the Ministry of Interior sent the proposed registered form and affidavit to Mufti Muneeb ur Rehman, the focal person of all religious boards on registration of seminaries for input of religious boards; however the seminaries refused to send their inputs to the Ministry of Religious Affairs and insisted on a meeting with the Prime Minister.

The official further said that under the proposed registration form, the management of seminaries will be required to provide the following information to the concerned department: name of sect, number of foreign students and teachers and their travel documents, sources of funding and income, total assets, bank accounts and number of vehicles under their use.

He said that after filling the registration form, the management of seminaries would also be liable to submit a signed affidavit declaring that the information provided in the form is true and that they would not teach any subject promoting extremism and hatred, and will follow all state laws in letter and spirit.

The government would take action against any seminary and its management if they are found engaged in any terrorism-related or any other illegal activity, they added.