The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) warned the federal government of a protest march to Islamabad if the long-delayed Madrasah Registration Bill is not passed by December 8.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has assured Fazlur Rehman to remove reservations in line with the bill, during the telephonic conversation. The premier had also invited Rehman for meeting.
The bill, intended to regulate and register religious seminaries, has seen repeated delays despite approval by both houses of Parliament.
JUI-F General Secretary Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri expressed frustration over the situation, accusing the government of deliberately blocking the process.
“This is a malicious attempt to hinder the bill, but we remain steadfast in our demand. The government must approve the bill by December 8,” Haideri stated during a press conference.
Haideri emphasized that the party did not wish to organize protests, citing the country's fragile condition, but described the delay as intolerable. He pointed out that the bill received backing not only from JUI-F and Wafaqul Madaris but also from all major religious seminary organizations across Pakistan.
The Madrasah Registration Bill was earlier returned by President Asif Ali Zardari to the Prime Minister’s Office due to legal objections.
Sources said that the president raised concerns about the bill's jurisdictional clarity and questioned its legal validity.
The dispute has also drawn attention from key government figures. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met Maulana Fazlur Rehman two days ago, assuring him of the bill's passage and fulfillment of all commitments. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar also discussed the issue in a separate meeting. Additionally, Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah and Senator Faisal Vawda held individual discussions with the JUI-F chief to ease tensions.
JUI-F’s firm stance and the government's conciliatory efforts underscore the urgency of resolving the Madaris Registration Bill issue before the looming December 8 deadline.
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