Madrassahs registration important, legal complexities cause of ‘delay in bill’, says Federal Minister
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, has emphasized the importance of madrassa registration while citing legal complexities as the primary reason for delays in finalizing the Madrassa Registration Bill. Despite the progress made, the minister assured that the government remains committed to ensuring the proper legal framework for madrassa registration across Pakistan.
In a statement, the minister underlined that the registration of madrassas has been a long-standing necessity, with extensive consultations conducted over the years with religious scholars, political leaders, and madrassa administrators. The government fulfilled its commitment by passing the bill in Parliament, respecting demands from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
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However, legal challenges have delayed the full implementation of the registration framework. “These delays should not be misconstrued as an attempt to reverse the process. Madrassas are educational institutions and fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education,” Hussain clarified.
To simplify the process, the Directorate General of Religious Education, under the Ministry of Education, has developed a streamlined one-window registration system. This initiative has resulted in the successful registration of 18,000 madrassas, ensuring efficiency and accessibility for madrassa administrations.
The minister warned that reopening debates about madrassa registration would undermine years of dedicated efforts and risk undoing the progress achieved. “If the process is halted, it will waste extensive efforts already made,” he said.
Hussain reiterated that madrassas should not be treated as industrial entities or subject to shifting jurisdiction between ministries based on subjective preferences. “The country’s administrative system operates on established rules and regulations, not personal whims,” he asserted.
The government’s streamlined approach aims to facilitate madrassa registration without unnecessary hurdles, ensuring these institutions remain within the purview of the Ministry of Education while aligning with national standards.
Chaudhry Salik Hussain concluded by urging support for the ongoing registration process. He reassured stakeholders that the delays are solely due to legal complexities and that the government is fully committed to resolving these issues and upholding the legal recognition of madrassas as educational institutions in Pakistan.
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