Federal Religious Affairs Minister Ijazul Haq has said that registration of religious seminaries was mandatory adding that politicians would not be allowed to darken the career of 1.5 million students for their political ends.
He was optimistic that Wifaq-ul-madaris Arabia (Deobandi) would soon agree to follow the programme while Ittehad Tanzeemat Madaris Deenia (ITMD) had agreed for registration.
He was talking to newsmen on Saturday after a detailed discussion with Qari Muhammad Hanif Jhulandari Secretary of Wifaq-ul- Madaris. Ijazul Haq sought co-operation of the MMA leadership on the government's resolve to get all religious schools in the country registered by December 31 this year. He stressed that the MMA leadership especially Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Qazi Husain Ahmad should not politicise the registration issue.
"I appeal to them to rather help the government get through the process amicably," he added.
He said the issue of seminaries had a humanitarian aspect as well because some 1.5 million orphans were living there as interns. He said that almost all organisations running religious schools in the country except the Wafaqul Madaris had agreed to co-operate with the government on the issue.
The minister said negotiations with the Wafaqul Madaris people were going on and hoped they would also agree to get all the seminaries working under their umbrella registered. "However, most of the issues being raised by the Wafaq people are objections for the sake of objections," he remarked.
To a question that what kind of action the government had against the seminaries which would not get them registered by the official deadline, the minister said the action plan would be spelt out when the deadline would come closer.
Describing the opposition as the weakest of its kind in the country's history, he said there would be no political upheaval if it might resign from the assemblies.
On the issue of the local government elections, he said his group had been adjusted satisfactorily in Bahawalnagar district from where he had contested the general elections. However, he said, imposing minority groups against the majority would harm the interest of democracy within the ruling party.
Deliberating upon Pak-Israel relationship, the minister said the government did not say it was going to recognise Israel and it would not happen until the establishment of a Palestinian State and independence of Baitul Muqadas. However, he added, there was no harm in playing a role between Israel and the Muslim Ummah to ensure lasting peace in the Middle East.
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