The JUI-F is up in arms about the government's plan to introduce, as part of a new internal security policy, reform of madrassah education aimed at countering sectarian violence and promoting religious harmony. Reacting angrily to the proposal in a recent National Assembly session, party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and his colleagues criticised the proposal threatening to wage countrywide protests starting March 20. They argued that the faulty policies of the government are responsible for the present situation, and that no permission is required for security agencies to raid a madrassah to arrest criminals taking refuge there. The issue however, is not just terrorists taking refuge in seminaries, but sectarian indoctrination that goes on in most of them leading to creation of sectarian terrorists.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman had earlier been venting his resentment over criticism of Deobandi madrassahs for involvement in violent extremism. To debunk what he described as unfair denigration he recalled that a while ago ulema from the Deobandi School of religious thought had issued a fatwa against suicide bombings as being violative of Shariat. That, he said, was the reason he was twice attacked by militants. He may have a point, but the problem is much wider. The security policy document is concerned about madrassahs that it notes "impinge on the national internal security", receive financing from unidentified sources, and publish and distribute hate material. Hence it has been decided to register the seminaries, monitor their funding and revise curriculum within twelve months. It is unclear which aspect of the proposed measures is objectionable for the JUI-F. A section of the press quotes the party leaders as saying they are not opposed to any governmental scrutiny of seminaries. They seem to support just one-time scrutiny considering their recall of the 1994-2004 era when, they said, no madrassah could work without registration, which required that they accept scrutiny of funds, curriculum and management. That begs the question, why would they resist regular scrutiny, like the rest of educational institutions, if there is nothing to hide?
The JUI-F chief surely is aware that many of the sectarian seminaries receive huge funds from abroad to promote outside interests. Some of them, such as the ones in southern Punjab at one point received as much as $100 million annually. It is no coincident that the most violent sectarian groups are concentrated in and operate from that part of the country. No one can be fooled about the role these seminaries play in spreading violent extremism. Money, without a doubt, is the driving force behind sectarian killings and increasing social tensions. It may be recalled that the Musharraf government had also tried to reform madrassah education and faced defiance. Most madrassah managements refused to have their accounts audited. They have since persisted in resisting scrutiny. Notably, in most Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, there is strict governmental control over all such activities; even the weekly sermon delivered in mosques has to have official approval. No one here should disobey governmental authority as it attempts to restore religious harmony. JUI-F as an ally of the ruling party needs to help the government implement the proposed madrassah reforms rather than to hinder them.