The federal government has refused to allow the religious schools (madaris) to reopen keeping in view the prevailing situation triggered by the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

Talks in this regard were held between Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood and Qari Haneef Jalandhary of the Ittehad-e-Tanzeemate-Madaris Pakistan at Aiwan-e-Adl in Lahore on Monday.

According to sources, the representatives of the religious alliance asked the education minister that every sector has opened therefore the religious schools should also be allowed to open. The education minister said that public and private schools will have to be opened if religious schools are allowed to reopen.

The minister said the pandemic situation in the country is deteriorating therefore the government cannot allow the religious schools to reopen. He said that provinces are already unhappy with some measures of the federal government. Qari Haneef Jalandhary, who represented the religious body at the meeting with education minister, has convened a meeting to discuss the situation after education minister’s refusal to allow the religious schools to reopen.