Maulana Fazlur Rehman: Modifying Madrasah Registration Act Would Violate Constitution

Islamabad: Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), has stated that the Madrasah Registration Bill has already become an Act, and any amendments to it would be a violation of the Constitution. Addressing the National Assembly on Tuesday, he emphasized that the government’s biggest obstacle to the registration of madrasahs was its own stance.
The JUI-F chief said that negotiations on the matter had been ongoing for over a month, with both government and opposition parties on board. “In politics, negotiations happen, and after discussing and presenting arguments, a solution is eventually reached,” he noted.
Maulana Fazl mentioned that discussions on the Madrasah Bill had been concluded, and at one point, the government raised three questions regarding the bill. He emphasized that the aim was to resolve all matters through mutual understanding, with all political parties having been taken into confidence on the 26th Constitutional Amendment. However, he pointed out that a major opposition party distanced itself from the amendment.
He further clarified that the government’s stance on the registration of madrasahs had been the main obstacle. Referring to a 2004 negotiation between the government and madrasahs, he said that the government had questioned what the curriculum of religious schools would entail. “We did not ask for the bill to be withdrawn for madrasahs; we showed flexibility in our stance. The draft was not created by us but by the government, and we accepted it,” he added.
Maulana Fazl also raised concerns about the President sending objections to the bill on October 28, stressing that the issue should not be politicized. “We are fighting for the respect of the Constitution and Parliament, not to undermine them,” he said.
He expressed frustration that despite the bill becoming an Act, a Gazette notification had yet to be issued. “Pakistan cannot afford any bitterness. If the Act is finalized, why is the notification not being issued? Is our legislation being dictated by the IMF?” he questioned.