Annual Dastar Fazeelit and Ulema Convention Held at Jamia Islamia Allama Abdul Ghani in Chaman

Chaman:The annual *Dastar Fazeelit* (graduation ceremony) and Ulema Convention were held at Jamia Islamia Allama Abdul Ghani, located on the Bypass Road in Chaman. The event was organized in memory of Allama Abdul Ghani (RA), with prominent religious and political leaders in attendance.

The ceremony included speeches from various key figures, including the Provincial Amir of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), Senator Maulana Abdul Wasay, Central Finance Secretary of JUI, Maulana Salahuddin Ayubi, Member of Central Shura and Provincial Patron-in-Chief of JUI, Maulana Hafiz Muhammad Yusuf, District Amir of JUI Chaman, Maulana Abdul Manan, District General Secretary Haji Ghous Allah, and other religious leaders from Chaman and surrounding areas.

### **Key Highlights:**
– **Educational and Religious Contributions**: Maulana Abdul Wasay, while addressing the gathering, emphasized the importance of religious schools (madrasas) and their significant role in the country. He expressed gratitude to the government for signing the Madrasa Bill, which strengthens the rights and respect of religious institutions. He said that the bill’s endorsement has brought honor to the President and helped ensure the supremacy of the Parliament, particularly in regard to the rights of religious institutions.

– **Support for Religious Institutions**: During his address, Maulana Salahuddin Ayubi highlighted that the signing of the Madrasa Bill represented a victory for the stance taken by Maulana Fazlur Rehman. He also mentioned that the legal battle fought by religious schools under Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s leadership was now officially recognized.

– **Youth and Women’s Empowerment**: The convention also focused on the importance of empowering youth and women, with a special segment dedicated to the conferring of degrees and shawls to graduates, including female students who had completed their studies to become *Alimas* (female scholars).

– **Concerns Over Border Issues**: A major concern raised during the convention was the impact of the border closure on the livelihoods of the people living in Chaman and the surrounding areas. The speakers expressed deep concern over the unemployment of approximately 8 million people in Chaman and Qilla Abdullah due to the closure of the Pak-Afghan border. They called on the government to create a special corridor, similar to the Kartarpur Corridor, to facilitate the local population’s access to cross-border trade and travel.

– **Political and Economic Demands**: The leaders also emphasized that the ongoing peaceful democratic protest in Chaman for the last 14 months should not be seen as a sign of weakness. They warned the government not to push the people of the region into rebellion by ignoring their grievances, particularly with regard to border restrictions and the resulting economic hardships.

– **Final Remarks**: The ceremony concluded with a heartfelt prayer led by Maulana Saifullah Agha, asking for peace, unity, and prosperity for the people of Balochistan and the entire country.

### **Closing Notes:**
The event was marked by a strong show of unity from religious leaders, students, and local community members. Over the course of the ceremony, hundreds of religious scholars and *Hafiz-e-Quran* were honored with degrees, while the event itself underscored the vital role of religious education and the need for continued support for madrasas in Balochistan and across the country.