Maulana Fazlur Rehman Seeks Clarity on Delay in Seminary Registration Bill Implementation
ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has expressed concerns over the delay in implementing the Seminary Registration Bill, urging the government to resolve the matter through legal and constitutional means, ARY News reported.
The issue was discussed in detail during a recent meeting of the Ittehad Tanzimat Madaris Diniyah (ITMD), attended by key religious leaders including Mufti Muneeb ur Rehman, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and Mufti Taqi Usmani.
Addressing a press conference following the ITMD meeting, Maulana Fazlur Rehman stated that the bill was initially introduced by the government and was accepted by his party in principle. He clarified that changes to the bill were made during the 26th Amendment discussions by the current government, not his party. “There is no controversial clause remaining in this bill,” he said, urging the government to proceed with its implementation.
The JUI-F chief criticized the sudden objections being raised, calling them unjustified. “This bill was presented in the assembly and approved by parliament. Raising objections now, after a month and a half, makes no sense,” he remarked.
He called on the government to clarify the reasons for the delay, stating, “If there is an issue, it should be made known why the Seminary Registration Bill has not been signed yet.” Fazlur Rehman rejected unnecessary doubts being cast over the bill, emphasizing that their demands are lawful and constitutional.
The JUI-F leader also dismissed the idea of placing seminaries under the Ministry of Education, saying such suggestions were irrelevant after 70 years of existing frameworks. “We are dealing with educated people; these excuses will not be accepted,” he said.
Reiterating his party’s stance, Fazlur Rehman emphasized the need for a simple resolution to the matter. “We seek a lawful and constitutional resolution without unnecessary hurdles. We are not here to create unrest but will remain firm if needed,” he asserted.
Concluding his remarks, he stated, “Our message is clear. We expect our demands to be addressed lawfully, and implementation of the approved resolutions should begin without further delay.”
