Ulema oppose politicisation of seminaries' registration issue

A conference of ulema, mashaikh and government ministers regarding reforms in madaris was held in Islamabad in which participants stressed that  the issue of registration of seminaries should not be politicised, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The important meeting on madrassah registration and reforms took place in Islamabad on Monday, bringing together prominent scholars and religious leaders from all schools of thought across Pakistan.

Emphasizing that religious seminaries play an important role in the propagation of Islam, Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi said on Monday that the registration of these seminaries should be foolproof. 

Addressing religious scholars, Tahir Ashrafi said the government had held detailed discussions on the registration of seminaries. “We don’t have to politicize the issue,” he said categorically. Ashrafi said the current madaris system should be retained and no change should be brought in it.

Speaking on the occasion, Ministry of Religious Affairs DG Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said that the standard of education at seminaries improved following their registration, which began after developing a consensus on the issue. He said a Form had been prepared for the purpose. 

Maulana Tayyab Tahir termed the registration of seminaries a good step. 

Allama Raghib Naeemi said that seminaries should be put under the control of the Ministry of Education. 

Speaking on the occasion, Allama Jawad Naqvi said that the government’s policy on the issue was clear. “Bringing madrassahs into the mainstream system of education is a good omen,” he added.

Addressing the consultation meeting of Islamic religious scholars, Federal Minister for Information Ataullah Tarar emphasised the government's commitment to integrating seminaries into the national education framework during a meeting on madrassah registration and reforms in Islamabad.

Tarar highlighted that 18,000 seminaries have been registered under the Ministry of Education, producing encouraging results. “Students from seminaries are becoming doctors and engineers, which is a great source of happiness. However, we must also eliminate negative aspects associated with madrassahs,” he stated.

He praised the guidance provided by religious scholars, acknowledging the importance of their proposals. “Maulana Fazlur Rehman is highly respected, and his suggestions will be carefully considered,” Tarar added.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain also addressed the meeting, noting that the ulema have significantly contributed to the process. He remarked, “Modern education’s positive effects on madrassah students are becoming evident, and this initiative will benefit the country at large.”

According to sources, the meeting was attended by key officials, including Director General of Religious Education Major General (R) Ghulam Qamar, Federal Minister for Education Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain.

Prominent figures assisting the discussions included Chairman Wafaq-ul-Madaris Maulana Tahir Ashrafi, Dr Raghib Naeemi, and Maulana Abdul Karim Azad. 

Other notable participants representing different sects and institutions included: Deobandi ulema Mufti Abdul Rahim (President, Majma-ul-Uloom Al-Islamia) and Maulana Tayyab Tahiri (President, Wahdat-ul-Madaris Al-Islamia Pakistan), Barelvi ulema Khurram Nawaz Gandapur (General Secretary, Minhaj-ul-Quran) and Mufti Wazir Qadri (General Secretary, Wifaq-ul-Madaris Al-Arziya Quetta), Shia scholar Allama Jawad Hussain Naqvi (President, Majma-ul-Madaris Taleem Al-Kitab wal Hikmat), Ahl-e-Hadith Ulema Muhammad Sharif Chungwani (President, Ittehad-ul-Madaris Al-Islamia Pakistan Lahore), Colonel (R) Syed Shafiq Ahmed (President, Board of Islamic Education, Bahawalpur).

Member of Islamic Ideological Council Pir Hasan Haseebur Rehman, Chief Khateeb of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Khateeb of Masjid Mahabat Khan Peshwar Maulana Tayyab Qureshi, Custodian of Basahan Sharif Shrine Kahuta, AJK, Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith Pakistan chief Allama Ibtisam Elahi Zaheer, Jamai Banoria Karachi's Mufti Noman Naeem, Jamia Hijwaria Data Darbar Lahore Principal Badar uz Zaman, and other prominent religious scholars also participated and coined their views in the meeting.