21st Amendment to Constitution: government urged to allay religious scholars' apprehension

Secretary General of Wafaq-ul-Madaris Al-Arabia, Pakistan, Qari Muhammad Hanif Jalandhari, on Monday, asked the government to introduce 22nd Constitutional Amendment to de-categorise terrorists and evolve unanimity to define terrorism. Besides, he linked co-operation to the government's initiative with regard to registration of madaris (religious schools) with implementation of all points which were agreed during the last meeting held in Islamabad on January 17.
"A criminal is criminal and terrorist is a terrorist, and distinction between terrorists should end," he said at a press conference held at Karachi Press Club. Renowned religious scholars, including Mufti Naeem, were present on the occasion. Accusing the officials of intelligence agencies and police of disrespecting administrators of religious schools under the garb of registration through unauthorised and self-evolved forms, he asked the government to rein in them and implement the already agreed procedures to enlist unregistered institutes.
"The government should make legislation in line with the agreements reached with us in 2005 and 2010, respectively," he suggested. Moreover, government must allay the apprehensions of religious scholars, lawyers and civil society on the 21st Constitutional Amendment by introducing 22nd Amendment to the Constitution," he added.
To a question, he said that the number of unregistered religious schools was quite negligible than those enlisted with the government. "It [unregistered religious schools] may vary between five and 10 per cent," he said. He also warned the government of changing sanctuaries of terrorists with the `discriminative' 21st Amendment, saying "the terrorists will not perish rather their sanctuaries will change".
He said that although all those who participated in a meeting held with the Interior Minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, had agreed on registration of religious schools, NGOs and other social welfare and academic, government's reply on formation of a committee to evolve mechanism before carrying out implementation of the initiative was still awaited.
Qari Jalandhari asked the government to identify religious schools which are involved in illegal activities or spurring extremism in the country, saying the officials should stop suspecting all the madaris. "We will de-list any of our member-religious schools if found in illegal activities," he assured.
On French sacrilegious sketches, he asked Muslim leaders to demonstrate unity over the issue and said that the western nations continued with their blasphemous attitude towards Islam. He asked the western media that it should dare to question Holocaust if it really believed in the freedom of speech.
"Western nations' magazines published sketches of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) which created discontent among the Muslims around the world and hurt their sentiments," he said, and warned the western nations that terrorism might spread from its anti-Islam attacks. He also wanted that the world should draw a line between 'insult and freedom of speech' while it was dealing with religions and religious personalities. "There should be a global legislation to distinct between freedom of speech and insult," he said, adding that the Muslim scholars had always responded to the criticism about Islam from non-Muslims, but would never tolerate insult to their religion. He asked the western media that why it shied away from challenging the controversial Holocaust as such was the charged crime in Europe and elsewhere in many parts of the world.
He, however, appreciated the Pope's stance on French blasphemous sketches. "We expect him [Pope] to use his status to make the world legislate to protect religions and sacred personalities," from such assaults. He said the Muslims believed the French sacrilegious sketches as 'terrorism', which would consequently endanger inter-faith harmony in the world. "If this [publication of blasphemous sketches] did not stop, world peace will be in danger," he warned. Qari Jalandhari announced to observe 'Day of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)'on Friday next in the country against the French sacrilegious sketch. He urged the faithful to remain peaceful during the protest and should not get involved in damaging public and government properties.