Despite boards' requests: Ministry yet to name seminaries having links with terrorists

The Ministry of Interior has not yet notifed seminaries allegedly having links with the terrorists' organisations despite the request sent to the Ministry by heads of five seminaries' boards of different schools of thought.
Some two months back, the heads of the five boards had sought the Ministry's assistance to notify all the seminaries which have links with the terrorists' organisations, following revelation by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan that 10 percent seminaries in the country are involved in terror activities.
"Five religious boards had jointly sent a letter to Ministry of Interior two months ago to notify the seminaries they claimed to have links with terror organisations along with sufficient proofs but the Ministry has not yet notified these seminaries," said Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, focal person of all five boards on registration of seminaries, while talking to Business Recorder.
"If the government notifies the seminaries with links to terrorists' organisations with credible evidence, all the five boards will stand by the government against these seminaries," he added.
He said that the five boards had also sent separate letters to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, chief ministers of all provinces, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Alai Khan and Director General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for a meeting to resolve the issues related to the registration of seminaries but so far "we have not received any response."
Muneeb-ur-Rehman confirmed that he had received the form along with an affidavit prepared by the government in consultation with all provinces, intelligence and other law enforcement agencies for registration of seminaries to bind them not to indulge in any terrorism-related activity as well as to reveal their sources of funding.
He said that he would give his final opinion on the form and affidavit formulated for registration of seminaries after he gets feedback from the heads of five religious boards namely Wafaqul Madris Arabia Pakistan, Tanzeemul Madaris Ahl-e-Sunnat Pakistan, Wafaqul Madaris Salfia Pakistan, Wafaqul Madaris Shia Pakistan and Rabta Al Madaris Islamia Pakistan.
"If government considers seminaries as educational institutions then a similar form and affidavit should also be sent to the private educational institutions," he urged.
A senior official of Ministry of Interior confirmed that the registration form had been sent to all provinces including Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) governments for final approval, which they approved.
He said that the Ministry of Religious Affairs prepared the form and affidavit in consultation with Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Ministry of Interior, police, four provinces, GB and AJK.
The official said that under the proposed registration form, the management of seminaries will provide the following information to the concerned department: name of sect, number of foreign students and teachers and their travel documents, sources of funding and income, total assets, bank accounts and number of vehicles under their use. He further revealed that after filling the registration form, the management of seminaries would also submit a signed affidavit declaring that the information provided in the form is true and that they would not teach any subject promoting extremism and hatred, and will follow all state laws in letter and spirit. The government would take action against any seminary and their management if they are found engaged in any terrorism-related or any other illegal activity, he said.